From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Chapter 716 "A Brief Pause"

Inside the relatively quiet bridge, a deep hum echoed between the metal frames, like the heartbeat of a giant beast.

Sui Meng stood quietly in front of the viewing window. His towering figure, over five meters tall, was covered by layers of armor, making him appear heavy and imposing.

His gaze pierced through the porthole, fixed on the enormous "wrecked ship" in the distant void—

Ishimura No.

That engineering vessel looked like a sanctuary abandoned by death.

The ship was badly damaged, with huge cracks like deep wounds. Exposed steel beams and bulkheads lay across the starlight, emitting blinding sparks and thin gas spurts.

It floats in the void, without lights or signals, merely a tomb adrift in the abyss, solemn and eerie.

Sui Meng's eyes did not hesitate despite the desolation.

On the contrary, his expression was cold and focused, and he had already read through all the intelligence his father had uploaded, and even repeatedly reviewed the supplementary records from the intelligence department.

The information was concise.
Corpse variant,

Divine Seal.

Sui Meng knew that those corpse-mutated beings were not ordinary deformed monsters.

They originated from human corpses, but were corrupted and distorted by some strange energy, turning into mindless killers.

They have no fear, no pain, only an endless desire to attack and an urge to "reproduce".

Once it spreads, it will devour entire colonies, planets, and even galaxies at a plague-like pace.

And the divine seal.
That was something that made Sui Meng even more wary.

The father's records clearly state that the Ishimura ship possessed a "red divine mark," a version replicated by humans.

Even flawed imitations still radiate an unusual spiritual resonance, capable of influencing thought, inducing madness and distortion on a level invisible to the naked eye.

This is a sharp blade hidden deep within the soul. If it falls into the hands of evil, it will not only cause turmoil in the 20th universe, but may even ignite upheavals in other parallel universes.
Of course, this is on the premise that the divine seal, and the race or consciousness that created the divine seal, can be protected by the Emperor's psychic power.

Sui Meng believed that even the evil gods in the subspace could not easily "break through" the psionic barrier created by his father, so the divine seal was "powerless".

Secondly, the Ishimura was not the only threat.

In the surface colonies of Aegis 7, there exists a "mastermind" that has already been revived.

It was a "highly intelligent" cluster hub, a colossal creature formed by the aggregation of numerous corpse variants, and under the hint of the divine seal, it became the "nerve center" of the corpse variants.

If it is not destroyed in time, it can act as the heart of the entire ghoul colony, and then try to spread chaos and madness to the stars.

Thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning. Sui Meng slowly raised his hand, his armored fingers rubbing against the metal surface of his armor with a dull sound.

Behind him, fixed to the magnetic lock, was still that enormous, custom-designed power spear, its cold light slowly swirling under the protection of the force field shield, as if it could tear apart the starship's armor at any moment.

Immediately afterwards, Sui Meng's voice rang out in the bridge, deep and resonant like a bell:
"Notify the First Company, which has already crossed the space gate, to immediately separate and form up to the surface colony at Aegis 7. Objective: Destroy the resurrected giant swarming creatures and eliminate any remaining threats to the colony. No mistakes allowed."

"Yes, father!"

The unified response echoed like thunder.

Immediately, outside the porthole, the first company of the Imperial Warriors dispatched a Valiant-class super-heavy cruiser, adjusted its course, and shot out of the fleet like an arrow, tearing through the void, heading straight for the sunlit colony of Aegis 7.

The propellers at the stern of the ship spewed out blazing ion tail flames, leaving trails of light that illuminated the dark space.

Its sharp edge resembled a heavy sword drawn by an ancient warrior, inspiring awe and fear.

As for Sui Meng, his gaze was firmly fixed on the Shicun ship.

He knew that the red divine seal was the key to this initial unification, and the true mission entrusted to him by his father was hidden within that lifeless ship.

"Anchor coordinates".

Sui Meng gave the order in a deep voice.

"Coordinates confirmed."

The ship's crew responded quickly.

The moment he finished speaking, a blue-green halo emanated from Sui Meng's armor, and energy pulses flowed through his body like surging tides.

The light bearing small seal script runes lit up one by one on the joints, breastplate, and shoulder armor of the armor, like a sleeping dragon being completely awakened.

Om-!
The air vibrated violently, and a dazzling beam of light burst forth from the center of the bridge, illuminating every solemn face.

The next instant, Sui Meng's enormous figure was completely swallowed up and disappeared into the ripples of energy, as if he had been pulled into another space-time by an invisible hand.

Silence returned to the bridge, with only the twinkling stars as if witnessing the "departure" of a Primarch.

Meanwhile, the Ishimura, that desolate steel wasteland, seemed to be awakened by some force at the same moment.

Its deep darkness inside seems to whisper silently, waiting for new "prey" to step inside.

Meanwhile, inside the ship, the Imperial Guards of Honor also underwent a short-range teleportation as their Primarchs completed theirs. Their fates, along with their Primarchs', would soon be written within that shattered behemoth.

Meanwhile, in the distance, Aegis 7, under the protection of the energy matrix, gradually stabilized, but it was also quietly "watching" all of this.

At this moment, the surface colony of Planet Aegis 7 is utterly silent.

The colonies, originally built around the Rift Valley, were once the hope of the colony pioneers who were misled and seduced.

Countless modular metal buildings are arranged on the ground, interconnected like a honeycomb, including residential areas, factories, energy storage warehouses, as well as squares and roads.

The remaining lampposts and signs still stand, but they are long since covered in ashes.

The fault lines on the earth pierced through the core of the colony like fangs; after all, the "skeleton" of the entire planet seemed to have been forcibly torn apart.

The ground was covered with collapsed steel bars, scattered mechanical parts, and broken holographic advertising boards.

Blurry images flickered on it, and the propagandist with a stiff smile continued to repeat the slogan "Explore the future, mine infinite and harmonious energy," but his voice was hoarse due to the electrical disturbances, like the whisper of a ghost.

The entire colony was utterly deserted, devoid of any sign of life, with only the wind swirling dust among the ruins.

Boom! Boom!
Suddenly, the roar of an engine came from the sky.

Several Thunderhawk gunboats belonging to the First Company of the Imperial Guards soared across the sky like eagles, their massive steel bodies slicing through the thick gray clouds propelled by their fiery nozzles.

They circled over the colony once, then swooped down in batches, landing in open areas on the outskirts of the colony.

Boom——! Boom——!
The heavy landing gear slammed into the ground, sending dust billowing up.

With the hiss of the hydraulic system, the hatches opened one by one, and out emerged more than a hundred Imperial Warriors.

Their figures resembled celestial soldiers and generals from ancient mythology.

Each piece of titanium armor is heavy and imposing, and its design is not like the common imperial style, but rather has a strong Chinese style.

The broad shoulder armor resembles the shoulder guards of an ancient warrior, embossed with patterns of coiled dragons and fierce tigers. Azure energy veins flow slowly across the dark alloy surface, like ancient talismans breathing. The character "武" (Wu, meaning martial/military) is engraved in seal script at the center of the breastplate, its powerful strokes shimmering with golden light, symbolizing the supreme glory of the legion.

Their helmets were designed in the shape of imposing masks, some resembling the masks of ancient generals, while others were inlaid with sharp lines.

Each Imperial Warrior was tall and imposing. The joints of their armor emitted a deep hum as they moved, yet they did not appear clumsy at all; instead, they exuded an aura of overwhelming power.

Their weapons are even more distinctive.

Unlike ordinary chainsaw swords or long-handled battle axes, the Imperial Warriors mostly wielded weapons and equipment with a Chinese aesthetic.

The power spear curved like a crescent moon, its entire body surrounded by dark blue arcs of electricity, and each swing of it cleaved the air with a deep roar.

Power swords are mostly modeled after ancient longswords or ring-pommel swords, with energy runes covering the blade. The blade gleams palely under the flow of plasma shields, ready to cut through steel barriers at any time.

"Launch the encirclement!"

At the centurion's command, the Imperial Warriors dispersed at lightning speed, their steps heavy yet orderly.

They also formed small teams of six, quickly sealing off the colony's south, east, and west sides with a formation resembling a parabolic array.

Several passages were tightly locked, and any enemy emerging from the ruins would be met with a storm of attacks immediately.

Only the rift valley on the north side was deliberately left as a gap, clearly intended as a direction to lure or prepare for an attack.

The Thunder Eagle gunships in the air did not leave immediately, but hovered in mid-air, with their twin hard laser cannons, heavy explosive cannons, and various missile launchers adjusting their angles at any time to ensure continuous fire suppression and cover for the ground troops.

Once the formation was set up, a chilling atmosphere immediately enveloped the entire ruins.

Subsequently, the Imperial Warriors set off, their mission being to "sweep away" the enemy.

Small teams began to enter the inner streets of the colony.

They traversed broken roads, moved between collapsed factories and twisted metal skeletons, their power spears and power swords constantly activated, and their faintly visible energy shields crackling softly in the air, ready to deal with any possible enemy attack.

Amidst the swirling dust, the soldiers' figures resembled walking steel statues, their boots echoing with a low "thump, thump" as they stepped on the ground, mingling with the heat waves emanating from the distant rift valley and creating an oppressive atmosphere.

Amidst the ruins, there are broken living quarters, still bearing traces of life—

An overturned dining table, scattered clothes, and a frozen projection in mid-air—the image of a family sitting together is forever frozen in time, but their laughter will never be heard again.

The Imperial Guards calmly and swiftly searched the area, and after confirming that there were no survivors, they continued their advance.

Soon, an unusual atmosphere filled the air.

It was a smell of decay and blood, mixed with the stench of charred metal, as if some unclean entity had once devoured and slaughtered here.

"Note that there may be residue inside."

The centurion gave a low reminder, which echoed across the communications channel.

The Imperial Guards marched without the slightest hesitation.

They knew that this colony was not only a ruin, but also a breeding ground for enemies.

Their purpose is to use the sharpest force to completely eliminate all heresy and filth.

As the squad ventured deeper, the entire colony seemed to awaken from its slumber, with blurry outlines gradually emerging from the shadows, ready to stir.

The air temperature suddenly dropped, and the oppressive atmosphere became so intense that it was suffocating. The Imperial Warriors gripped their weapons tightly, and the light of their spears and swords gleamed in the dim ruins.

The real battle seems to break out in the blink of an eye.

Boom—boom—!
The Thunderhawk gunboat swept across the desolate sky of the Shield 7 colony, its dilapidated metal structure reflecting a blinding glare in the grayish-yellow light, like a tombstone witnessing the fall of its former prosperity.

The titanium armor of the Imperial Warriors also gleamed with a cold light under the pale sunlight.

The armor is engraved with ancient Chinese patterns, with sharp lines intertwined with solemn runes, and the ferocious beast head relief on the breastplate seems to roar out.

The swaying cloaks and crimson battle ribbons, like blood-stained banners, added a touch of grim power to these warriors.

These details perfectly embody the unique style of the Imperial Warrior Legion, which is based on the Sui Dynasty's fierce spirit—resolute, fierce, and yet dignified.

Once the encirclement was complete, the colony fell silent for a few seconds. Then, the miniature radar inside the helmets of the Imperial Warriors suddenly flashed, and countless red dots appeared on the green screen, like stars suddenly ignited.

Every red dot represents a threat lurking in the shadows.

Boom——!
With a piercing metallic cracking sound, the necromancy gushed out like a flood.

They crawled out of the ventilation ducts, their limbs torn and deformed, yet they still pounced at a frenzied speed;

They emerged from the sewer openings, dragging along dismembered flesh and tattered colonial work clothes, their mouthparts split open to their ears, their roars tearing through the air.

roar----!!

The imperial soldiers remained calm and composed.

The bolters, already prepared, were raised, their muzzles spitting out flames one after another.

Bang! Bang! Bang!
The distinctive sound of bolt-action gunfire echoed through the narrow streets of the colony, like a blood-soaked battle hymn.

The explosive projectile exploded upon hitting its target, and the enormous kinetic energy and secondary explosion tore the necromancy into pieces.

Pfft! Pfft!

Those mutated bodies had no chance to struggle before being cut into blood mist and debris by the explosive projectiles. Fragments flew across the metal walls and the ground like a storm of flesh and blood.

The colony's ordinary weapons were ineffective in stopping the necromancy; rather, it was the engineering equipment, especially the tools capable of dismemberment, that had a "special effect" on killing the necromancy.

However, the firepower of the Imperial Guards could dissipate large waves of impact in an instant.

However, the number of necromancy variants is far more than that.

They came in waves, as if the shadows of the entire colony were pouring out distorted forms.

The first batch of magazines was quickly emptied, but the Imperial Soldiers did not hesitate and instead smoothly switched to "cold weapons".

Buzz—Sizzle!
When the power sword and power spear are activated, blue-white energy surges across their blades.

The Imperial Warriors marched with steady steps, yet carried an unstoppable force.

They met the tide of ghouls head-on, spears thrusting and blades slashing, each strike accompanied by a thunderous roar.

The mutated corpse's flesh was dismembered almost without resistance under the energy field's cutting action, and blackish-red bodily fluids splattered onto the armor, only to be repelled by the armor's energy shield.

The Imperial Warriors' fighting style was full of fierce "beauty"—

Like elite warriors in ancient battle formations, the front ranks pierced through the oncoming enemy shadows with spears, while the rear ranks slashed down monsters rushing from both sides with swords.

Their movements were synchronized and efficient, as if they had undergone countless such trials.

But when the new figure appeared, even these valiant Imperial Warriors paused for a brief moment.

Those things were actually transformed infants.
(End of this chapter)