The Blood Scythe descended with terrible purpose.
In an instant, everything changed. The humanoid crab's specialized armor, which could not be cut or embedded by the monomolecular saw teeth of chainswords, which had turned aside Imperial weapons with contemptuous ease, met its match.
The sharp blade lingering with green light penetrated hard!
The scythe punched through alien alloys like they were paper. No resistance. No deflection. Just smooth, terrible entry.
"Huh? It actually worked? Great!"
The reaction was bizarre. The humanoid crab, which had suffered terrible damage, suddenly raised his volume. But instead of screaming in agony, he let out a strange and fierce cry that sounded almost... joyful?
Nolan, holding the Blood Scythe in both hands, quickly stepped forward. No hesitation. No mercy. Just completion.
He turned the sharp blade slightly, adjusting angle. Then pulled it horizontally with tremendous force.
The humanoid crab, still lying firmly on the ground where impact had driven him, was completely split in two from the waist in an instant!
The scythe's edge parted flesh and metal alike. Spine severed. Organs bisected. Blood erupted from the terrible wound in arterial sprays.
"YEAHHHH! KEEP GOING! MOREEEE"
At this moment, Cancer, who had just been cut into pieces, seemed not to feel any pain. His voice carried euphoria rather than agony.
He just let out bursts of laughter that was almost insane, the sound echoing across the blood-soaked street.
Then, impossibly, the upper half of his body moved. He forcibly used two huge metal crab claws to turn over his torso, which was spewing blood from the fracture in pulsing gouts.
Even his twisted and ferocious face vaguely revealed a comfortable expression full of relief. Peace. Freedom. Release from twenty-five years of imprisonment.
At this moment, Nolan stepped forward with the Blood Scythe held in one hand, the weapon dripping green-tinged gore.
He lowered his head slightly, looking down at the bisected Cancer before him. His voice emerged curious, seeking confirmation.
"The Zodiac of Leviathan? Which one are you? Cancer?"
"Hehehe... Thank you. I am finally free. I can finally get rid of this damn alien armor!"
Cancer's response came between wet, bubbling breaths. Blood filled his lungs but he forced words out anyway, voice carrying gratitude Nolan hadn't expected.
The wearing the specialized armor said to Nolan with a smile that was grotesque on his dying face, "Evelyn of Aries and Julia of Pisces have died in your hands. Libra, who is proficient in melee combat, and Aquarius, who is good at magic, went to the location of the city wall and were responsible for commanding the private army of the Fortunov family to resist the resistance army's attack."
He paused, drawing labored breath. "The Scorpio and the Capricorn boy hid inside the palace. Be careful of the ambush traps they are best at, especially Scorpio's alien firearm..."
At this moment, hearing the flood of tactical information revealed by Cancer one after another, Nolan's hand moved.
He had just raised the Blood Scythe, preparing to deliver mercy or ensure death. But now he lowered the undead weapon again, reconsidering.
He stared into Cancer's bloodshot eyes and suddenly offered, "If you just want to live, then choose to be loyal to me. I can spare your life and even heal your injuries."
The panacea could restore anything. Bisection included. Loyalty bought survival.
But Cancer's response shattered that possibility.
"Stay alive? I think you misunderstood. I don't want to live anymore! I'm too tired. I want to fall into permanent sleep peacefully..."
His voice carried finality. Certainty. The decision of someone who'd thought about this for decades.
"As for revealing the news about the Zodiac to you, I'm just afraid that it will be too lonely to go alone, so I plan to ask them to come and stay with me!"
Revenge. Not against Nolan. Against fellow prisoners who'd shared his hell.
"Haha, I don't have much time, and there is one last thing..." Blood bubbled from his lips, pink foam marking lung damage. "The leader of Leviathan, Gemini, is huddled in an alien spaceship. You can easily use the gold jewelry found from other Zodiac. The method used to teleport there is also very simple..."
He coughed, wet and terrible. "Don't worry, Gemini, who has been squeezed for energy by alien spacecraft all year round, has no ability to resist..."
Then came the final request. The last act of a dying man. "However, before you kill Gemini, please tell him that I, Uvalov, have paid off all the debts he owed..."
At this moment, Cancer's mouth gradually opened wider. His final hearty laugh emerged, carrying genuine mirth despite the blood.
The sound rose. Peaked. Then stopped abruptly.
His eyes widened, pupils dilating. Then fixed. Unseeing. Empty.
Uvalov was gone. And from his expression, he'd found whatever peace waited beyond.
Standing next to the corpse, Nolan stared at the internal organs slowly flowing out from the fractured body. Intestines. Liver. Stomach. All sliding across pavement in steaming coils.
He couldn't help but shake his head, the motion small but carrying weight.
"They are indeed a bunch of lunatics..."
Victims. Monsters. Lunatics. Perhaps all three simultaneously.
At this moment, the Stormtrooper team carrying chainswords and bolters gathered behind Nolan again. They'd secured the perimeter, confirmed no additional threats.
They prepared to organize and launch another assault toward Hassenstadt Palace ahead, continuing the mission.
However, Nolan, holding the Blood Scythe in his palm, stopped them with a raised hand. Different plan. Better plan.
Instead, he drove his power armor to search for gold jewelry on the nearby corpses of the Zodiac members he'd killed. Aries. Pisces. Each wore ornaments that served as communication devices and teleportation anchors.
While looting bodies, he used the communication channel to issue orders to David.
Not long after, the Valkyrie, which had been hovering invisibly over Hassenstadt, changed its flight direction again. David's piloting was precise, bringing the transport into attack position.
Boom boom boom!
The roar of the vector engine announced arrival. The sound was tremendous, drowning out smaller battle noises.
One by one, micro-missiles launched from wing-mounted pods. They flew quickly through the air, leaving extremely clear projection trajectories behind. Smoke trails painted lines across the sky.
The twin lascannons located under the wings also opened fire, coordinating with the micro missiles. Red energy beams lanced downward with devastating precision.
Together, they launched a devastating terrorist bombing toward Hassenstadt Palace!
At this moment, the continuous fire bombardment caused the entire palace building structure to gradually collapse inward. Stone and timber gave way. Support columns shattered. Walls fell.
Ancient architecture, standing for centuries, died in seconds.
Within the collapsing structure, a tragic death cry echoed. Then red neurotoxin began spreading from hidden corners, gas released by dying Capricorn in final spite.
Immediately afterward, a figure burst from the palace entrance. He held a silver alien gun, his whole body covered in flames that consumed flesh and clothing alike. Scorpio, burning but still fighting.
He rushed madly out of the dust-choked opening, weapon rising to target Nolan.
However, he didn't get his first shot.
The terrifying firepower from the Stormtrooper squad opened up immediately. Bolters barked. Las-beams lanced. The concentrated fire completely shattered the attacker's fragile body into pieces of flesh and blood splattering everywhere!
Scorpio died as he'd lived. Violently.
At this moment, Nolan, wearing his metal helmet, slowly stood from his looting. He'd found what he needed.
In his palm rested three gold jewelry pieces with different shapes. Rings. Necklaces. Each ornament bore traces of blood stained on the surface, still wet and gleaming.
They emitted faint metallic luster despite the gore.
Boom boom boom!
The Valkyrie roared past everyone's heads, vector engines making low thunder. David maintained position, ready for new orders.
"My Lord, Mr. Doom is being besieged by two enhanced from the Zodiac." David's mechanical voice carried through the communication channel with perfect clarity. "Judging from his current combat status, Mr. Doom seems to be at a disadvantage. However, the overall offensive progress of the rebels is still going smoothly. Two-thirds of the important facilities have been completely occupied. Do we need to mobilize the intelligence corps outside the city for corresponding support?"
The report was comprehensive. Tactical situation. Resource allocation. Request for guidance.
"No need to mobilize the intelligence corps. The battle here is over."
Nolan, hearing David's battlefield situation report, put the three gold ornaments in the storage compartment of his power backpack. They clinked softly as they settled, precious keys to future operations.
He turned to the Stormtroopers without hesitation, voice carrying command authority.
"Bear, Bucket, go to the ruins of the palace to check if any Zodiac members survived. Everyone else, follow me!"
As soon as Nolan's voice fell, he moved.
He tightly grasped the Blood Scythe in his palm and drove his power armor to run quickly toward the city district where Doom fought. Magnetic boots pounded pavement in rapid succession.
The Stormtroopers, divided into two teams, immediately executed the corresponding orders with professional efficiency.
The Bane brothers nodded at each other, silent communication passing between twins. They rushed into the palace ruins with chainswords revving, ready to finish survivors.
Gao Qi, Osprey, and Craig followed Nolan to provide necessary support, their longer strides keeping pace with his charge.
A few minutes later, having covered the distance at armor-enhanced running speed, Nolan arrived.
Through his eyepiece, he saw the situation immediately. And his jaw clenched.
A strong black man with his upper body completely exposed dominated the space. His attacking movements were agile and fast as a cheetah despite his massive build. Enhanced strength. Enhanced speed. Libra.
He was swinging Doom, who wore power armor that should have made him formidable, back and forth like a broken toy!
The silver armor provided no advantage. Doom's body ragdolled, limbs flailing uselessly. Each impact against ground or wall created terrible sounds. Metal denting. Ceramite cracking.
Just on the black man's muscular waist and wrists, clearly visible even from distance, metal ring belts gleamed. They were specially designed to shield witchcraft magic, emitting striking purple glow!
Doom's greatest weapon, his sorcery, was completely negated. Reduced to merely human strength inside armor he'd barely learned to use.
Standing in place, Nolan made a decision. His voice roared across the battlefield at the strong black man, the tone carrying deliberate insult.
"Hey! Looking for a real fight, or do you only beat on crippled opponents?"
The challenge was clear. Provocative. Designed to redirect attention.
He instantly pulled the Frost Fang from the magnetic lock on his power backpack. His arm cocked back, muscles coiling.
Then threw it forward without hesitation!