The Heavens: A Qing, the Yue Girl at the beginning

The calorific value of mercury is truly terrifying; even the limited-charge "Iron Fist" warhead emits a miniature sun-like incandescent sphere of light the moment it hits its target.

Thermobaric bombs had a terrifying effect even in relatively open courtyard spaces. The air ignited by the secondary explosion transformed into a visible red shock ring that expanded aggressively!
Raindrops and puddles instantly evaporated, hissing and crackling. Large areas were enveloped in scalding white steam, the air was sucked out, and then stirred into turbulent currents by the violent shockwave.

The two Prometheus were the first to be engulfed by the wave of fire. The thick steel armor that was riveted together melted and peeled off like soft mud, revealing the red-hot skeleton inside. The red mercury leaked out and ignited, and then it was shattered into pieces in a tremendous explosion!
How could these... these rabble, which are not even as good as the militia, these young students who should be trembling in the face of the steel torrent, possess such powerful weaponry and a death wish?

"Heretics!" Count Lechter suppressed his distracting thoughts, his voice booming through the loudspeaker, "Purify them! Now!"

The surviving Iron Giants immediately retaliated. Their skeletal shoulders jerked violently, and their smoothbore cannons spewed forth bursts of flame several meters long, as specially designed explosive shells whistled through the air as they left the barrels.

Unlike churches built with thick granite, school buildings and other structures were merely fragile brick and stone structures, theoretically vulnerable to heavy artillery and offering virtually no protection.

The scene of carnage and collapsed buildings that I had imagined did not occur.

The shell, about ten meters from the building's outer wall, seemed to have struck an absolutely transparent wall with faint ripples, hovering and deforming eerily before finally turning into scorching metal fragments as it advanced inch by inch, falling down in a flurry.

A dust-free place.

This was a protective barrier of words that Xia Mi had set up in advance, and it was now displaying an absolute defensive posture.

All external matter and energy are excluded.

"God... a miracle! Angels are protecting us!"

Witnessing this scene, the students in the teaching building instantly felt their hands, which had been trembling with fear, fill with strength. They cheered as they reloaded, and then loaded, aimed, and fired with even greater fervor.

Unleash the full force!

Meanwhile, the communications channels of the Templar Armored Division were filled with panicked and incredulous screams: "Impossible! What is that? An energy shield? I've never seen this technology before!"

"There is no record of this in the technology database of the Original Sin Agency!"

"Attack invalid! Repeat! Attack invalid!"

One side unleashed deadly firepower from an absolute defense, while the other side's proud attacks were a joke.

This was not a fair and just battle at all; from the very beginning, it was a one-sided and brutal massacre!

Count Lecht felt a chill run up his spine and to the top of his head. He began to doubt himself, doubt the intelligence of the Holy See, and even doubt whether the world had long since turned away from the glory of the Messiah.

At the height of this chaos, atop the church bell tower, the seraph's armor, which had stood silently all along, finally moved.

Through his visor, Caesar coldly surveyed the hellish scene below, his standard-issue Dragon Fang Sword gripped and locked between his hands, the power core spinning at double speed, and his leg joints suddenly exerting force.

Like a falling dark blue star, carrying a resolute killing intent, it pounced down on Prometheus!

The iron-colored arc of light flashed and disappeared in an instant—what a unrestrained and unrestrained slash! The sword energy was as vast as the sky and the sea!
Yet they are all united in a single line!
The sword's powerful momentum, like a soaring dragon, struck the giant's nape!

"Clang—creak!"

A piercing, tearing sound of metal shattering rang out!
The armor plate shattered instantly! Dark green hydraulic oil and coolant gushed out like blood.

Upon being struck, Prometheus's head separated from his body instantly. His massive form shook violently a few times before slowly collapsing to his knees like a collapsing mountain, finally crashing to the ground with a thunderous roar, sending up a cloud of mud and water.

The knight's cockpit of the giant mobile golem is located in its head. Decapitation is tantamount to "death," and the control system is completely destroyed.

The menacing metallic figure, taking advantage of its descent, glided lightly against the side and back of the wrecked Prometheus at the last moment, landing on the ground. Using its wreckage as temporary cover, it blocked the barrage of bullets from the heavy rapid-fire gun. It crouched down, charged up the hydraulic rod at its Achilles tendon, and launched itself out again!

It pounced on its next target, aiming straight for the enhanced mech where the commander was located—Count Lecht's vehicle! Leaping, spinning, dashing! Its movements were fluid and graceful, treading over the sprawling flames like a demon passing through a sulfurous hell.

The Seraph's super mobility was fully unleashed! The vast majority of attacks missed their mark as the Seraph darted and weaved, the entire armor resembling a night butterfly dancing in a storm.

"Stop him!"

The count roared, wielding a six-meter-long curved greatsword in each hand, crossed in front of him like giant scissors, and driven by the "Tyrannosaurus" class core with over 40,000 horsepower, fiercely slashing towards the dark blue figure rushing towards him!

This is Prometheus' classic close-combat move, enough to cut a heavy chariot into three pieces!
After all, they were battle-hardened elites; though startled, they remained calm.

The black iron giants on the left and right sides tacitly took out javelins from the hidden compartments on their backs and struck a javelin-throwing pose like Hercules.

With a powerful swing of its four-meter-long arm, it blocked all possible escape routes for the enemy. The triangular pyramid tip, reinforced with hard gold, was powerful enough to pierce through the Seraph's armor head-on.

However, Caesar's movements were faster and more cunning!
The seraph's figure suddenly blurred, and he performed a near-teleportation-like zigzag slide. His spear whistled through the air, but only pierced through the afterimage left behind, embedding itself deeply into the ground!

All that's left is a buzzing sound!

Before the greatsword could be closed, Count Lecht felt a spiraling force travel along the blade, as if it were being pried open by an invisible lever, causing the killing trajectory to suddenly shift, deviate, and collide!
The mechanical hand gripping the sword hilt suddenly emitted an overload alarm! The immense force not only deflected his sure-fire strike but also caused his massive machine to stagger.

The middle door is wide open!

"what?!"

The thought of horror had barely formed when the dark blue figure slashed into his blind spot like a whirlwind. The Dragon Fang Sword transformed into a chilling bolt of lightning, slashing upwards in a reverse motion!

"Click——"

The heavy breastplate was cut open without any suspense, along with the internal pipes, structure, and... Knight's Cabin.

The curved blade drooped limply, crashing heavily to the ground and splashing up a large amount of mud and water. The enormous Prometheus stood frozen in place, its chest wound flashing with chaotic sparks, before falling backward, only to be overturned midway by an explosion.

Chief Knight of the Templar Armored Division, codenamed "Blue Sturgeon," was killed in action.

The remaining Prometheus pilots completely lost their will to fight. Even the "Blue Sturgeon" was instantly killed; its attacks were ineffective, and its defenses were easily torn apart... This wasn't a battle; it was suicide!

"Retreat! Retreat towards the tunnel!" The remaining black giants began to retreat hastily, not even caring about the remains of their companions.

The students erupted in deafening cheers, and some excited young people even rushed out of their bunkers to unleash a final, fiery farewell symphony at the retreating enemy.

Caesar lifted his visor, his purple eyes gazing into the distance, but there was no joy of victory, only a deep despair. Above, a huge white moon shone through the flames and smoke, casting a cold, judgmental light.

Inside the hall atop that towering tower, in the pool of blood, he had overheard the entire conversation. He now knew that the world was about to be sacrificed and meet its irreversible demise.

Despite possessing the courage to slay generals and seize flags, and the power to command seraphim, he was powerless to do anything about it.

Keeping this suffocating nightmare a secret from Adele and bearing it all alone is perhaps the only small act of tenderness he can offer at this moment, hoping to preserve a last piece of carefree sunshine for her before the curtain falls on that eternal night.

……

Meanwhile, dozens of miles away, on the mountain plains outside the Jinlunga Tunnel, the decisive battle between East and West was also nearing its end, but the outcome was completely opposite to the Papal States' expectations.

The Crusader's lines had collapsed and crumbled.

The wreckage of the Stein heavy machine lay scattered across the scorched earth like a beetle crushed by a giant beast. The Dragon Roar heavy artillery position was deathly silent, with only twisted cannon barrels and charred craters left by the explosions. The Apocalypse Chariots and their mounted Sky Iron Cavalry lay burning in the mud, molten metal dripping down like teardrops.

Thick black smoke billowed straight into the sky.

The soldiers, dressed in black robes, fled westward like a tidal wave, their faces filled with terror and disbelief.

The turning point came with the arrival of that light.

It was not a fierce counterattack from the four legions of the Eastern Great Xia Wind, Forest, Fire and Mountain, nor was it the indestructible, chilling sword light wielded by Rundstedt, who commanded the "King of Light" and used Excalibur.

Instead, four golden, headless monsters, Omega, descended upon the battlefield, their bodies flowing with magnificent flames.

Wherever they passed, countless soldiers, officers, and cultivators inexplicably knelt in the war-torn ruins, their hands clasped together in a gesture of utmost piety. Yet, golden flames naturally rose up, and they charred at a visible speed, quickly turning into corpses while their weapons, equipment, and clothing remained intact.

Before they died, everyone wore incredibly happy and radiant smiles, softly reciting: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..."

This incomprehensible, divinely judgment-like method of destruction is more effective than any brutal slaughter in crushing the will to resist of ordinary soldiers, especially believers in the Messianic Church.

"Divine punishment! This is divine punishment!"

"We have betrayed the true God! He is punishing us for our arrogance and sin!"

"Run! This is an irresistible divine punishment!"

It was as if the pillar of their spirit had suddenly collapsed at that moment.

The defeat was like a landslide or a tsunami.

Unstoppable. With ample reserves of spiritual elements, Omega's power and lethality far surpassed anything the Holy See had ever witnessed before. Moreover, under Zhao Qing's remote control, gravity was neutralized, and it hovered, specifically designed to incinerate the guilty and wicked.

The souls of the first batch of the dead were collected and their memories analyzed to determine whether their familiar colleagues were guilty and deserved to die. This process was repeated batch after batch, much like a collective punishment.

……

Behind them, hidden within the monastery, was the combat command center.

The atmosphere was as oppressive as a tomb.

One Morse code box after another was frantically spitting out white paper strips, hissing like the gasps of a dying man.

With each piece of information deciphered, the officer in charge's voice trembled a little more, eventually turning into a desperate wail:
"The 3rd Division has suffered over 70% casualties! The commander has been confirmed dead! The remaining troops have lost their organization and are disintegrating!"

"The heavy artillery positions have been completely destroyed! The 10th Division attempted to take over the defense but was ambushed by enemy 'mountain' troops and was annihilated!"

"Tank group...the core unit of the tank group has lost signal over a large area! The flank cover of the Seraphim Knights has failed, and their commander, Rundstedt...has betrayed us! He is slaughtering our troops!"

"The Templar Armored Division encountered an unidentified force at Marston Royal Mechanical Academy and was almost... wiped out!"

"Omega units confirmed on the battlefield! Four in number. Our... all our attacks are ineffective against them! Massive non-combat casualties among soldiers! Frontline collapse!"

As the officers read out the notes, the red icons representing the Papal States Legion on the huge battlefield sand table were quickly removed and frantically moved to the gray areas representing defeat.
Meanwhile, the blue icons representing the enemy surge forward like a tidal wave, clearly depicting the utter devastation of their defeat.

Director Spencer, seated in the main seat, was deathly pale, his fingers gripping the armrests so tightly that veins bulged on his skin.

He couldn't understand why his meticulously planned "Phoenix Killing" operation had failed so miserably. Why was the mighty Crusader Guard so easily defeated, so swiftly and thoroughly?
Why did that ultimate weapon, which should have belonged to the Papal States, end up in the hands of the enemy and be used to kill their own people?

Rundstedt's betrayal, the emergence of Omega... these events were completely beyond his expectations, shattering all his and Pope Lon Borgia's original strategic plans.

"What should we do? How can we explain this to the Holy See? The Cardinals will inevitably be dismissed... held accountable? No, it's the nations putting pressure on the Papacy?"

Spencer's thoughts were in complete disarray, and cold sweat soaked through his lining.

Just then, an old-fashioned Morse code box, carved with thorns and images of the crucified, suddenly emitted a slow and clear "click" sound, completely different from the previous rapid rhythm.

The young officer in charge of the machine instinctively picked up the paper strip. After just one glance, his pupils suddenly contracted, his face turned deathly pale, and his lips trembled, leaving him speechless for a moment.

"Read it!" Director Spencer shouted sternly, his ominous premonition reaching its peak.

The officer took a deep breath, using all his strength, but his voice still trembled uncontrollably:
"Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin!"

(Mini, Mini, Tikele, Ufaerxin!)

This is a prophecy that appeared on the walls before the fall of the ancient Babylonian kingdom! It means, "God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end! You have been weighed on the scales and your indebtedness has been revealed! Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians!"

The moment everyone understood the meaning, the rhythm of all the combination locks changed again.

The paper strips they spat out were no longer densely printed with tactical codes, but rather names, ranks, unit numbers, and, following them, a list of... countless crimes!
List of those already tried:

"Crusader Guard, 3rd Division, Armored Grenadier Captain, Karl Muller. Crime: In a village in southern Ceylon, he ordered the burning of 37 houses, resulting in the suffocation deaths of 43 civilians and the deaths of 295 others from severe burns and infections..."

"Pierre Laval, Lieutenant Colonel of the Special Operations Unit of the Inquisition, directly under the Cardinal Council. Crimes: Abuse of 'interrogation' powers, use of torture methods such as the 'Iron Maiden' to brutally murder nine suspected associates of the witch..."

"Lionheart Knights, Second Division, Official Knight, Viscount Alberto Grimaldi. Crimes: Involvement in the trafficking of 'virgins,' embezzlement of compensation funds for fallen soldiers..."

"Ignacio Hans, Senior Sergeant, Fifth Artillery Regiment of the New Roman Empire. Crimes: abduction and rape of 802 women, murder of 54 civilians..."

The list continues to grow, one after another, each item shocking, as if an all-knowing god were recording everyone's sins in the clouds, leaving none out.

Spencer knew many of these names, some of whom were even his close associates or political allies.

And at the end of each printed tape is the same cold, concluding statement:

"The above souls have been verified to bear blood debts and blaspheme the mercy of light. In accordance with the final clause of the Divine Covenant, they are sentenced to 'purification by the sacred fire,' to be carried out immediately. —Executing unit: 'Omega,' serial number: 7."

With a thud, Director Spencer slumped weakly into his chair, his eyes glazed over.

This is not just a military defeat; it is the collapse of the very foundation of the Papal States' rule!

Even the deepest-hidden sins were ruthlessly exposed and punished.

The Messianic order to which he served was crumbling before his eyes, crushed into dust by a force he could neither comprehend nor resist.

"The devil...the devil is impersonating God..."

Spencer groaned weakly, his last shred of faith crumbling.

An uncontrollable fear gripped him.

He frantically tore at the paper strips, as if trying to erase this terrible reality, but more paper strips continued to emerge, like an endless stream of funeral money.

……

News of Marston's change of control arrived almost simultaneously with news of the collapse at the front. The elite Xia army, pursuing the enemy along the railway line, encountered almost no significant resistance and, with the cooperation of the teachers and students in the city who had risen up in rebellion according to "divine decree," stormed into the heart of the city.

The routed remnants of the Crusader Guard, along with sporadic reinforcements from the rear, were simply unable to organize an effective second line of defense.

When the old flag of the city hall was torn down, the Pope himself could only flee westward in haste, escorted by a few surviving Seraphim cavalry, along the railway line that had not yet been completely severed.

They abandoned almost all their baggage and ceremonial guards, leaving behind truckloads of wounded soldiers, all in the hope of getting as fast as possible, as fast as possible.

This key town, which the Papal States had been secretly developing for many years and which was regarded as a bridgehead for attacking the East, fell within hours.

The news spread like wildfire, carried by fleeing nobles, routed soldiers, and terrified messengers, reaching the heart of the Papal States and the holy city of Florence.

In encrypted cables between high-ranking officials of various countries, these messages are constantly distorted and exaggerated, carrying with them unspeakable fears:

"Gog and Magog's vanguard has crossed the mountain pass of the Caucasus."

"The blasphemous demon has landed in Trabzon."

"The Dark Star has reached the gates of Ankara."

"The tiger that devours the world has encamped in Bursa."

"The Antichrist and His legions appeared in the Bosphorus, and the fleet... the fleet was destroyed!"

"But He could never set foot in Constantinople!"

"The false light has illuminated the dome of the Hagia Sophia."

"The usurper has been spotted at Adrianople, only three hundred miles from New Rome. The city of seven hills is in grave danger!"

"The seven seals of the end times have been revealed! Judgment Day has arrived! The banner of the one riding the red horse... has already flown over the walls of San Gimignano! Tomorrow, he will water his horse on the banks of the Tiber."

"The Holy See... the Holy See, along with the Cardinals and the Lords, has... has evacuated Florence! They have gone to Avignon!"

"The true anointed one resides in the countryside outside the Vatican."

"His Majesty the Messiah of Light, this morning, amidst the cheers of his millions of subjects, enters the Sistine Chapel!"

The Papal States were established by a covenant, and God promised his people land, thus enabling the establishment of the state.

In the current religious texts and the understanding of countless believers, it should never be destroyed because it is under God's protection.

But the holy city of Florence still could not withstand the sweeping advance of the army, which undoubtedly signaled the end of its regime's legitimacy and instead bestowed upon the other side the symbol of orthodoxy, while it itself became a heretic.

After all, even when the old Roman Empire was defeated and overthrown by the Messianic Church with its absolute technological advantage, the speed was far from fast.

It's hard to believe that newcomers aren't divinely protected.

……

Approximately eighty hours later, Zhao Qing stood before Mount Vesuvius, watching the molten metal and fiery pillars rise and fall. (End of Chapter)