From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Chapter 555: "Meat Grinder" "Devil-like" "Falling into Madness"

Whoosh—whoosh——!
Inside the Imperial Palace, the buzzing sound of blaster beams rose and fell, echoing in the narrow corridors and wide halls.

Two white "torrents" are colliding violently——

On one side are the elite stormtroopers who obey Darth Vader, and on the other side are the stormtroopers guarding the palace.

However, the outcome of this battle was doomed from the beginning.

Vader's elite stormtroopers are considered the top fighting force in the Galactic Empire's army.

They have been through hundreds of battles, and their armor is covered with traces of battle. Every scar tells of their glory and ruthlessness.

Their movements were equally swift and precise. Although they were far inferior to the Spartans and Astartes of the Human Empire, every shot from their blaster rifles carried a deadly threat.

In contrast, the stormtroopers guarding the palace appeared to be in a state of panic.

They did not understand the current situation, and could not comprehend why their former allies would suddenly turn against them. This confusion plunged them into serious disorder, making it impossible for them to organize an effective resistance. They could only fight on their own, and even began to show tendencies towards "internal strife" and "suspicion."

In the corridors of the palace, blaster beams intertwined into a web, and Vader's stormtroopers were like sharp knives, quickly tearing through the defenses of the guards.

Their advancement was orderly, and every step was carried with unstoppable momentum.

The defending troops were defeated in the chaos, and some began to fight each other, wondering if their comrades had already betrayed them.

Amid this chaos, Darth Vader stood out as being exceptionally calm.

He was surrounded by hundreds of elite stormtroopers, his black cloak fluttering in the firelight, and his steps were steady and slow, as if he was enjoying this game of thrones.

His steps were filled with unquestionable majesty, as if announcing to the outside world that the owner of this palace was about to change.

During this period, there were occasional stormtroopers who were absolutely loyal to Palpatine and tried to stop their advance.

"Unfortunately", these soldiers were easily dealt with by Vida's elite troops before they could get close.

Amid the buzzing sound of blaster beams, their figures fell to the cold floor, becoming victims of this power change.

Even if there are occasional fish that slip through the net, Vida only needs to wave his hand lightly to "clear all obstacles with one click".

Those soldiers who tried to resist didn't even have time to scream before their throats were crushed by the Force or they were thrown against the wall, turning into a bloody mess.

The most important point is that this battle is not limited to the "meat grinder"-like fighting in the Imperial Palace, but the entire Coruscant is caught in endless war.

This core planet of the Galactic Empire, the once prosperous metal city, is now shrouded in the shadow of destruction.

The fleet occupying the strategic location mercilessly carried out orbital bombardment on the metal surface of Coruscant. Judging from its posture, it seemed that it wanted to completely wipe out this planet from the galaxy.

The orbital beams fell from the sky like divine punishment, and each beam carried the destructive power of extremely high temperature and energy.

The seemingly endless metal buildings quickly twisted and deformed under the bombardment of the light beams, and then caused a raging fire.

The flames devoured everything like a giant beast, dyeing the sky of Coruscant blood red.

The residents of Coruscant who lived, worked, and occupied these buildings were swept up in the catastrophe without warning.

Their lives were taken away in an instant, without them even having time to utter a scream.

For those areas that were directly hit by orbital bombardment, they might be considered "lucky" because at least in a short moment, they would be "reduced to ashes" without having to endure the severe pain of scorching heat.

However, for those residents trapped by flames and "metal magma", fate seemed particularly cruel.

They watched their relatives and friends die, while they themselves were trapped in the sea of ​​fire and ruins, suffering from extreme sadness, fear and despair.

Their screams echoed in the sea of ​​fire, like a mournful elegy, bidding farewell to this once glorious city.

At this moment, Coruscant is overflowing with "negative emotions".

Fear, despair, anger and pain are intertwined, and an invisible force is devouring everything.

Moreover, these emotions are the power of the dark side or, in other words, the perfect nutrients for another space or dimension. Moreover, the population of Coruscant exceeds one trillion.

While carrying out the orbital strike, the fleet also completely blocked Coruscant's orbital control.

A large number of ships and space stations stationed there were destroyed in an instant, turning into pieces of burning debris. Even those garrison troops that still had the strength to fight were thrown into chaos in this sudden "civil war".

The command system completely collapsed, making effective dispatch impossible, and ships and soldiers fled in all directions like headless flies.

Worst of all, the garrison was gripped by fear after learning that the mutiny was instigated by Darth Vader.

Vida's name was like an invisible shackle that made them feel suffocated.

No one dared to act rudely in front of that adult, and no one dared to question his authority.

Even the soldiers loyal to Palpatine chose to retreat in fear, because they knew that to be an enemy of Vader would be tantamount to self-destruction.

The aerial streets of Coruscant were filled with flames and thick smoke, forming a doomsday-like picture. The once prosperous metal city was now gradually reduced to ruins.

At the same time, the fleet led by Vader did not stop at orbital bombardment. They also dispatched a large number of transport boats, carrying tens of thousands of stormtroopers to land on the metal surface of Coruscant.

The mission of these stormtroopers is not only to occupy or suppress, but also to drive innocent people - both humans and aliens - to one place and imprison them.

The stormtroopers were seen pointing their blaster rifles callously at unarmed civilians.

In fact, the actions of these stormtroopers were not intended to restrict civilian activities during wartime as it seemed, but to carry out killings more efficiently.

When the order from their superiors was conveyed, many stormtroopers were puzzled.

Some of them whispered, why should civilians, especially human civilians, be killed indiscriminately?
After all, the Galactic Empire has always advocated "human supremacy" and excluded and discriminated against any non-human race.

This is why there are many non-human members in the Rebel Alliance. However, orders are orders, and the discipline of the stormtroopers makes it impossible for them to question them and they can only execute them mechanically.

As the massacre continued, the mood of the stormtroopers began to change quietly.

At first, they might be able to numb themselves by saying "obeying Lord Vader's orders", but as time went on, some soldiers began to become "enthusiastic" about this bloody work.

The sense of power and desire for destruction brought by the massacre gradually eroded their sanity.

Under the helmets, their eyes became more empty and cold, and the blaster rifles in their hands seemed to be their only belief.

Invisibly, the fate, soul, and even the bodies of these stormtroopers are "bound" to Darth Vader, whom they serve.

Their actions were no longer just executing orders, but had become an extension of Vader's dark power. Every time they pulled the trigger, every time they swung their weapons, it was like they were adding bricks and tiles to Vader's ambitions, and their hearts were gradually devoured by darkness, completely becoming puppets under Vader's rule.

Now, these elite stormtroopers were moving through the ruins, their white armor already stained red with blood, like demons walking out of hell.

The other side is the Imperial Palace.

Darth Vader, surrounded by more than a hundred elite soldiers, also arrived outside the core hall of the Imperial Palace.

However, just as they were about to cross the sky corridor, Darth Vader suddenly raised his left hand slightly, signaling the elite troops behind him to stop.

The sky corridor was shrouded in a pitch-black invisible shadow. Even the armor of these elite stormtroopers, which were equipped with a more advanced detection system than that of ordinary stormtroopers, could not directly spy on the specific situation in the corridor.

The darkness was like an invisible barrier, blocking their sight and adding a bit of oppressive atmosphere.

But none of these elite soldiers felt afraid.

On the contrary, with the outbreak of the "Civil War", their respect and "love" for Darth Vader became deeper and deeper, and they even vaguely regarded him as a "god".

In their eyes, Lord Vader is invincible. As long as he stands here, no enemy can stop them.

Their eyes were full of fanaticism and loyalty, as if they were ready to give everything for Lord Vader at any time.

Tread. Tread.
Just then, a faint sound of footsteps came from the depths of the sky corridor, and the sound was deep and powerful.

Soon, a group of guards wearing red robes and red helmets walked out of the shadows and appeared in everyone's sight.

Their figures seemed particularly mysterious in the dim light, and their red robes fluttered gently in the air like burning flames.

These guards were the emperor's bodyguards, warriors, assassins and executioners, the Royal Guards.

Their existence symbolizes the majesty of the empire's highest power and is also Palpatine's last line of defense.

The Royal Guards are extremely rare, with a total number of no more than five hundred. Each member has been strictly screened, and only those imperial soldiers who meet the highest standards in stature, physical strength, intelligence and loyalty are eligible to be selected into this mysterious team.

The Royal Guards have distinct and unique features. They are completely wrapped in flowing red robes, and a bright and ordinary red mask covers their faces, making it impossible to peek into their true appearance.

They are armed with spears, special "electric batons" and all kinds of cutting-edge melee and long-range weapons.

The total number of the guards in front of everyone was about four hundred, four times that of the elite stormtroopers.

Even though the number of elite stormtroopers far exceeds that of the Royal Guards, they are no match for these red-robed guards. Every member of the Royal Guards is a battle-hardened warrior. Their strength and loyalty are enough to make any invader pay a heavy price.

Then, Darth Vader waved his hand again, signaling his trusted subordinates to stay where they were and wait.

He himself stepped forward, stepped onto the sky corridor alone, and faced those beings known as the "peak of humanity."

"Huhu."

The deep breathing beneath the mask showed that the Sith Lord had no emotions at all.

The moment Darth Vader stepped onto the sky corridor—

Whoosh—whoosh—!!

The Royal Guards, armed with high-powered blaster firearms, launched a concentrated fire attack without hesitation.

Blaster beams shot at Vader as densely as raindrops, and the air was filled with a sharp buzzing sound.

However, all the attacks were repelled by an invisible barrier the moment they approached Vida.

Buzz——buzz——!!

The blaster beam exploded in the air, sparks flew everywhere, but it couldn't hurt Vader at all.

The power of the Force surged around Vader, forming an indestructible barrier. The long-range firepower of the Guards seemed so powerless in front of him, as ridiculous as a child's toy.

Then, Darth Vader freed his right hand and took off the hilt of the lightsaber hanging at his waist.

His movements were smooth and graceful, as if he was presenting a work of art. With a slight flick of his wrist, the bright red high-energy blade instantly extended out. The buzzing sound of the blade echoed in the air, like the whisper of death.

Then--

Buzz~——sizzle——sizzle——!!

Then Darth Vader's figure was like a black lightning, rushing into the Guards at an extremely exaggerated speed.

His lightsaber drew deadly arcs, and each swing was carried with unparalleled power.

Before the red-robed guards of the Royal Guard could react, they were already caught in a one-sided massacre.

The guards armed with melee weapons were at the front, trying to block Vader's advance with spears and "electric batons".

However, their efforts seemed so powerless in front of Vader, and the lightsaber blade easily cut off their bodies.

The bodies of the guards, beheaded and gagged, piled up at Vida's feet. The blood oozing from the burn wounds dyed the ground of the sky corridor red.

As for the guards in the rear, armed with long-range weapons, they tried to use blaster firearms to support their comrades in the front.

However, before they could launch their attack, they were strangled by Vader's Force.

The invisible force crushed their necks like a giant hand, causing them to fall to the ground without even having time to scream.

Only a few outstanding ones could barely fight against Vader.

They were agile and had superb fighting skills, but they still seemed so small in front of Vader.

The next second, Vader used the Force to tear these guards apart.
Literally torn to pieces.

The limbs, head and torso were separated, and the torso was twisted and deformed under the pressure of the Force. Blood spurted out from the gaps in the armor, like a crushed and "exploding" fruit, and finally turned into a pool of bloody debris.

During this period, the hundred elite soldiers outside the air corridor wanted to help Lord Vida, but the offensive and frequency of the guards were beyond their ability to keep up.

In the end, before the hundred elite soldiers could decide whether to disobey orders and provide assistance, Darth Vader had already slaughtered more than 400 Royal Guards by himself.

Blood flowed down from both sides of the aerial corridor like a waterfall, and the corridor was littered with broken corpses.

Darth Vader walked forward on his own.
(End of this chapter)