From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Chapter 708 "This is the heart of the empire"

Step, step, step——

The deep, powerful footsteps echoed in the dimly lit subway tunnel, each step like a heavy hammer striking the fragile strings of people's hearts.

The sound grew clearer and more distinct, as if an army was rapidly approaching.

The survivors present were still stunned by the tyrant's appearance.

They once thought death was inevitable, that the tyrant would raise his massive armored hand at any moment and crush everyone like insects.

But reality is quite different; the tyrant simply stood silently outside the broken doorway, like an unmoving steel statue.

Just as questions arose in everyone's minds, the footsteps grew louder, their oppressive force even more suffocating than the tyrant's silence.

Almost instinctively, all the SWAT officers and veteran officers raised their weapons again, but their palms were already drenched in cold sweat.

They knew perfectly well that they were powerless to resist the tyrant before them, and now a new being had descended, making their resistance utterly meaningless, yet they dared not lay down the only weapons they had.

Finally, the owner of those footsteps appeared.

A group of figures clad in trench coat-style combat uniforms filed in, their steps perfectly synchronized and rhythmic, resembling a ruthless war machine.

In the dim light, the metallic reflection on the surface of the opponent's helmet was as sharp as a blade, and the junction of the chest armor and the shoulders was inlaid with dragon patterns, each light pattern cold and menacing.

The enemy was not any army the survivors knew, but a group of armed forces they had never seen before.

Immediately, a soldier with a dark red helmet stepped out from the ranks.

Its steps were heavy and imposing, each step carrying an irresistible sense of oppression. The eye monitors emitted a ghostly red light in the dim light, like a pair of cold, hard mechanical eyes, mercilessly scanning every corner of the shelter.

Hiss—whoosh—!
Accompanying this was a rhythmic, low breathing sound.

The breath was amplified through the helmet's built-in filtration system, sounding like mechanical lungs operating with a chilling rhythm.

All the survivors held their breath; some instinctively stepped back, and some children were so frightened that they shrank into their mothers' arms.

The air was so oppressive that even time seemed to stand still.

Finally, the red-helmeted soldier slowly spoke.

The voice came through the helmet visor, carrying a strong nasal tone and a metallic quality, its tone flat and indifferent, devoid of any emotional fluctuation:
"We belong to the human empire's clone force. We have come here on a mission to rescue you all. You can rest assured."

These few words, though brief, resonated like thunder throughout the entire shelter.

For a moment, everyone became even more uneasy.

They instinctively longed for rescue, but the cold self-introduction made them hesitant to believe it.

An unfamiliar army, an unfamiliar force—the origins of the opposing side are like a mystery that fell from the sky, even more terrifying than the Blood Cross.

Just as everyone was filled with fear and uncertainty, two more clone soldiers entered the shelter.

Furthermore, "their" attire differed slightly from that of their clone soldiers, with a clear white background and red cross marking on their left armbands, and their waists were adorned with various complex medical instruments and small rescue equipment.

They moved swiftly and decisively, with almost no hesitation, heading straight for the survivors.

One of them announced in a cold voice: "Please sit still. We will check each of you to make sure you are not infected."

As the words fell, the medic raised his arm, and a module on the side of his armor popped out, projecting a dark blue scanning beam that swept over everyone present.

The light, like a cold, sharp blade, made the survivors' faces appear deathly pale.

"do not move!"

The SWAT officers instinctively shouted, but their guns remained stationary for a moment.

Because they knew very well that they had no chance of winning, and that firing rashly would only push the survivors to their doom.

The old police officer stared intently at the soldier in red helmets, his aged yet still resolute eyes filled with vigilance.

Although he longed for rescue, his years of experience told him that he should not trust any unfamiliar forces, especially an army as ruthless as a machine.

However, the clone soldiers were completely unconcerned about their hostility.

The formation of guards outside the gate remained orderly, their guns not raised, yet they seemed poised to take everyone's lives at any moment.

That cold confidence is the most terrifying thing.

As the scan progressed, the oppressive atmosphere inside the shelter reached its peak; every ray of blue light swept across, like a scythe proclaiming fate.

At this moment, everyone finally realized
Perhaps their future has already been completely controlled by some much larger force.

As the clone medic finished scanning, the oppressive atmosphere in the shelter gradually eased.

The cold, mechanical sound echoed in the air, confirming the results, and the obtained data was concise and to the point.

Apart from a few young children who developed mild fevers due to long-term malnutrition and a damp environment, none of the others carried the blood cross virus.

This news was like a ray of light piercing through the thick fog, finally allowing everyone who had been stretched to their limit to catch their breath.

However, when two clone medics with white patches and red crosses on their armbands stepped forward to treat the feverish children, the parents' instinctive reaction was to instinctively stand in front of their children.

There was an uncontrollable wariness in the eyes of those parents.
After all, in this world filled with death and betrayal, they dared not easily trust any strangers, let alone these "people" in front of them whose faces were indistinct and whose movements were mechanical.

The cloned medics didn't hesitate at all. They didn't try to explain or show any emotion. Instead, they walked straight past the obstruction and firmly pressed the syringe into the child's arm.

The slightly fluorescent liquid in the injection quickly entered the child's body, and the microscopic drugs carried by the nanorobots began to repair the inflammation and metabolic abnormalities in the body almost instantly.

Visible changes occurred one after another—

The children's feverish foreheads gradually cooled down, their breathing became less rapid, and their faces, which had been flushed from the high fever, gradually regained their normal color.

The speed of the transformation from weakness to recovery was almost unbelievable.

? !
The parents stared in astonishment at the scene before them, a look of disbelief gradually appearing in their eyes.

Fear was diminished at this moment, replaced by trust challenged by reality.

Finally, the civilians huddled in the corner of the shelter began to slowly stand up and gradually approach these cold soldiers from the Empire.

Despite remaining wary, they had to admit that if these "people" hadn't arrived in time, they would have died long ago from the Blood Cross virus or the infected people roaming outside.

Next, guided by clone soldiers, the survivors left the cold and cramped underground shelter. The heavy alloy hatch was sealed shut behind them, as if severing their last connection with the old world. They walked step by step towards the surface through the cleared tunnels.

When the group finally stepped out of the underground passage, the cold wind and bright light that hit them were almost too much for them to handle at first.

But when they gradually looked up, the scene before them made everyone hold their breath in unison.

! ! ! !
After all, at this moment, a colossal object was hovering over Toronto.

The massive hull of the Valiant-class super-heavy cruiser stretched across the sky like a steel continent that obscured the stars. Its surface was covered with intricate patterns and fortress-like gun turrets. The flashing navigation lights and deep red warning lights intertwined in the night sky, creating a suffocating sense of oppression.

The iconic insignia on the bow, appearing and disappearing amidst the clouds, proclaimed its unique identity as a warship belonging to the human empire.

The survivors were almost speechless with shock; their familiar worldview had been utterly shattered.

Even veteran police officers and special police teams who were used to life-or-death battles froze on the spot when they saw this scene, their throats going dry.

Meanwhile, on the surrounding streets, order and a tense atmosphere coexisted.

Clones dressed in trench coat-style combat suits lined up on both sides, their steps precise and silent. Their weapons gleamed coldly, and their eye monitors glowed with a deep red light, making them resemble emotionless harvesters.

Further away, large numbers of auxiliary troops equipped with power suits could be seen in action, making the entire city look like a huge military camp.

The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood, but the chaos was over, and the remaining Blood Cross forces on the streets were gradually wiped out.

Those once fearsome men proved utterly ineffective against the organized "future" army; the bursts of gunfire were intermittent, replaced by a chilling silence.

The special police team watched all this, their hearts filled with complex emotions.

They once thought they were the city's last line of defense, but now it seems they are nothing more than insignificant dust.

These imperial troops before us are the ones who truly determine the fate of the city.

As for the survivors, they realized one thing: in the face of such a massive war machine, neither the Blood Cross nor they, as civilians armed with light weapons, had any means of resistance.

The only thing we can do is choose to follow and obey.

At least at this moment, they are still alive.
The scene shifts, and the camera seems to travel through an endless sea of ​​stars, slowly descending towards Earth in the main universe.

The Earth of today is no longer the blue planet of the old civilization, but the undisputed center of the human empire, and the magnificent complex known as the Imperial Palace stands on this planet like the abode of a god.

The palace's appearance far exceeded ordinary people's imagination.

Layer upon layer of domes and spires reach into the clouds, and the gold and white alloy exterior walls reflect a dazzling brilliance under the moonlight, as if enveloping the entire continent in its glorious majesty.

That kind of aura cannot be embodied by mere architecture, but is a symbol that can awe the soul, a common belief and spiritual pillar of hundreds of millions of people, and an embodiment of the imperial will.

Deep within the palace lies the core area of ​​what was once the ruins base.

The statues, altars, and torches that remain here are the foundation upon which the empire was able to span the multiverse.

Beneath the dome of the sky, 6km x 6km space gates stand silently, their surfaces still emitting a constantly shimmering, deep halo, like mercury mirrors.

These are the portals to countless unknown worlds.

Through them, imperial forces can instantly reach alien universes, bringing order and iron-blooded power to the endless stars.

At the same time, the entire area is surrounded by a powerful energy shield and is always on high alert. It can only be opened with the permission of the emperor.

Passing through the core area, our gaze returns to the main building of the Imperial Palace.

The magnificent staircases and corridors stretch as far as the eye can see, like a giant vein running through the heavens and the earth. Every stone slab is engraved with intricate inscriptions, recording the history of the empire's rise, the development of mankind, and the glory of countless bloody battles.

Here, you can see imperial guards standing everywhere, clad in golden armor.

They are the empire's top guardians, each standing over three and a half meters tall, their bodies like steel giants.

Their golden armor, engraved with Chinese characters and psychic amulets, seemed to burn with sacred flames under the palace's radiance.

The Imperial Guards stood silently among the carved beams and painted pillars, or patrolled the corridors in neat rows. Their eyes were resolute and cold, like statues of guardian deities. Anyone who dared to offend the majesty of the palace would be torn to ashes in an instant.

As the light and shadow advance, the scene gradually shifts to the most sacred part of the imperial palace—

Meditation Hall.

The palace is magnificent and solemn, with its dome adorned with gold and jewel-encrusted reliefs depicting a splendid picture of imperial unification and victory.

The air inside the hall was filled with a tranquil yet heavy atmosphere, as if time flowed more slowly here.

On the towering pillars on both sides, huge torches are embedded, their flames burning with golden light, swaying constantly, yet without a trace of smoke.

Clearly, those flames were not ordinary matter, but rather formed from psychic energy, symbolizing the inextinguishable will of the human empire.

At the far end of the hall, the golden throne stands tall, its enormous form almost blending into the entire hall.

Beneath the throne, dozens of royal guards stood silently and solemnly on either side. Their presence was not only for protection but also for deterrence, making anyone who stepped into this place instinctively feel insignificant.

Below the steps stood two distinctive figures: Ap and Melissa.

They were among the first intelligent AIs to join the Empire. Their prosthetic bodies were made of liquid metal and could change shape at will, but at this moment they appeared in a near-human form.

The black cheongsam outlines a simple and dignified silhouette, with flowing silver metal shimmering between the cuffs and hem, like a silent warning.

Their eyes gleamed with a faint light, representing an endless stream of data, as they calmly and wisely observed everything within the meditation hall.

Finally, the camera lingered on the golden throne.

Seated in the center of the throne was an incomparably majestic figure—

Suiyang.

His entire body was surrounded by pure and flawless psychic radiance. The light was not dazzling, but it permeated every corner, as if even the air was being purified.

It is this power that protects the entire human empire, shielding countless people from the corruption of the warp and chaos.

His face was calm yet incredibly resolute, his eyes containing a profound wisdom that transcends time and space, as loving as a father and as cold and unapproachable as an emperor.

At this moment, Sui Yang did not speak, but it was as if the pulse of the entire universe was resonating with his will.

Everything within the Meditation Hall proclaims an undeniable fact to the world: this is the heart of the empire, and the human emperor seated upon the golden throne is the sole refuge and faith of his millions of subjects.
(End of this chapter)