From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Chapter 752 "Turtle Shell" and "Iron Fist"

?

In this dark void that devours senses and concepts, the "human" figure outlined by light and shadow immediately ignited Sui Meng's highest alert as a warrior.

Almost instantly, Sui Meng's body reacted before his consciousness did.

The vast, star-like, and silent abyss-like spiritual energy within his body, like an enraged star, suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light, forcibly dispelling the surrounding darkness and creating a domain.

Buzz————!
The custom-powered spear he gripped tightly emitted a low, dangerous hum, like an ancient behemoth awakened.

At the tip of the spear, highly compressed and condensed destructive energy distorted the light, emitting fluctuations that made the very structure of space tremble. It was about to transform into a destructive thunderbolt that tore through dimensions and pierced through the void, completely erasing and annihilating this mysterious and bizarre phantom from this level of existence.

However, just as the destructive energy torrent was about to escape control and surge forth, an indescribable, strange tremor, seemingly imprinted from the deepest part of his soul, like the most resilient thread, forcefully "wrapped" him and suppressed his impending attack.

The "figure" standing silently in the darkness.
The "aura" or unique "information field" emanating from him, which transcends sight and hearing and is difficult to capture with conventional sensors, gave Sui Meng an unexpected sense of familiarity.
The feeling was ethereal yet real, like a traveler smelling the wind of their homeland, or a lost soul hearing their mother's lullaby.
yes.
Just as Sui Meng's mind was slightly shaken by this sudden sense of familiarity, and his destructive offensive was momentarily slowed down, so too was the moment he experienced a subtle tremor in his mind.

A voice, etched deep within him, intimately familiar, that had guided him countless times throughout his formative years, tempering his will and offering him warmth, carried a world-weary helplessness. It came from the "direction" of that light and shadow, echoing directly in the deepest recesses of his consciousness, like the private teachings he received in the temple in the past:

“My child, remember what I taught you: when facing the unknown and the unpredictable, anger driven by emotions and recklessness without regard for consequences are always the most dangerous enemies on the path of wisdom.”
Meticulous observation and extreme composure are the true sources of understanding the essence and mastering power.

This sound.
That unique tone of voice.
The teachings contained therein
Sui Meng's pupils contracted sharply, as if struck by an invisible hammer.

His fingers gripped the metal handle of the spear with even greater force, causing the handle to emit a slight "groan of pain".

He stared in disbelief at the light and shadow before him, trying to find any flaw.

After uttering that whisper, the figure began to slowly walk towards him.

As the distance between the two sides decreased, their outlines and details became clearer and more specific at an astonishing speed.

It was a pristine white, shimmering, and exquisitely draped ancient Greek robe, elegantly wrapping around her slender, divine figure.

It was long hair that shone like flowing liquid gold, carefully styled up at the back of the head, revealing a smooth, full forehead and perfect facial features.
Especially those eyes.
Those eyes, brimming with boundless wisdom and the sharp edge of war, were now silently gazing at him with a complex and enigmatic expression, a mixture of scrutiny, concern, and even a hint of indescribable emotion.

The being before him, from her appearance, demeanor, and mannerisms to the unique aura and energy fluctuations emanating from her, even the most subtle and inimitable life rhythm, was identical to the goddess deep within his memory who had personally taught and raised him to adulthood, the embodiment of war and wisdom.
That is, his mother Athena, exactly the same!
This is no longer a simple illusion, but a near-perfect "reproduction".

? ? ! !
This scene, which was completely beyond comprehension, inevitably caused Sui Meng's mind, which was as resilient as the core of a star, to be momentarily stunned for less than half a second.

Countless questions exploded in his mind like a supernova—

The figure of a mother?
How can it be?

Why is she here?
It appeared in this extragalactic galaxy, 2.5 million light-years away, hidden deep beneath the surface of a planet with an extremely harsh environment, within this ancient matrix filled with eeriness and hostility.
However, this brief wavering stemming from a deep emotional connection was immediately crushed by his tempered will, as unbreakable as the steel of the empire, and his deep-rooted warrior instincts.

In an instant, all confusion was replaced by an even more surging, overwhelming rage and a bone-chilling, pure killing intent.

This trick of manipulating the image of his most cherished and inviolable person is, to him, a more vicious and unforgivable desecration than any direct physical attack!

"Blasphemer! How dare you!!"

A roar, brimming with violent spiritual energy and seemingly capable of shattering the soul, abruptly tore apart the deathly silence of this alternate dimension.

Sui Meng no longer hesitated for a moment; reason completely gave way to boiling rage!

The custom-designed power spear, in the form of a crescent blade, also sensed its master's boundless rage and erupted with unprecedented, dazzling golden light.

His entire strength—

The Primarch's immense power, the torrent of psychic energy, and the utmost rage against blasphemy were all poured into this single strike.

The spear transformed into a beam of sunlight tearing through eternal darkness, hurtling towards the illusion of "Athena" with a speed beyond the limits of thought and reaction, carrying a terrifying power capable of destroying everything.

This strike, unleashed in fury, was delivered with all its might, without holding back whatsoever, vowing to completely erase from this universe this filthy being that dared to defile the sacred image of his mother!

boom----------!!!
A deafening explosion, like a planetary collision, suddenly erupted.

The entire alternate dimension trembled and wailed violently under this unparalleled power.

A violent golden energy shockwave emanated from the point of impact of the spear tip, spreading outwards like ripples of destruction and sweeping everything away.

The intense flames instantly illuminated this eternal darkness as if it were daytime.

The violent energy storm quickly subsided and dissipated.

The space at the explosion's epicenter was in an unstable, distorted state, like a piece of crumpled cloth, having been forcibly torn apart and then barely mended.

There was nothing there. The lifelike illusion of "Athena" seemed to have been completely evaporated by that angry, destructive blow, leaving not even the most basic information particles behind.

Sui Meng's chest rose and fell slightly, not because of energy depletion.
To be honest, this was insignificant to him. The real reason was that the extreme anger deep in his soul had not yet subsided.

Using the image of a close relative to perform illusions deeply touched his bottom line, which he would never tolerate. This act was a more disgusting and unforgivable desecration than any physical confrontation.

His mother, Athena, the goddess of war, whose divine countenance and majesty would not tolerate any alien or unknown being imitating or defiling her in any form!
In his view, only the most thorough and violent purification could wash away this deep sin.

However, just when he thought the filth had been cleared away and his sharp eyes warily scanned the surrounding void to check if there were any remaining threats, a chilling change occurred again without warning.

The surrounding darkness, as if it had come to life, receded quietly like the tide, and the spatial structure that had been disrupted by the explosion quickly stabilized.

The scene before him was almost exactly the same as before he launched that thunderous attack, as if time had been reversed, or that everything that had just been devastating was just a vivid illusion.

In the void not far in front of him, those faint particles of light and shadow once again defied the laws of physics and appeared out of thin air, converging together.

The illusion of her, clad in a pristine white robe, with her golden hair styled in an updo and a face identical to Athena's, reappeared perfectly intact. "She" still gazed silently at Sui Meng with those deep, seemingly star-filled eyes, her exquisite face showing no anger or fear from the violent attack, but rather a hint of...
It was deeper than before, like an absolute calm that had already seen through everything in the past and future. And even beneath that calm, if you looked closely, you could seem to detect a trace of sadness that was hard to catch.

This time, "she" did not speak again, nor did she make any attempt to explain or communicate. She simply stood there quietly, as if launching a silent but even more aggressive challenge against Sui Meng's reason, cognition, and even the reality he firmly believed in, with absolute silence.

This bizarre and inexplicable recurring phenomenon made the atmosphere in this enclosed, dark space even more somber and enigmatic.

"."

Just as Sui Meng's killing intent intensified due to the reappearance of the illusion, and he was preparing to gather even stronger power to completely shatter it, the illusion of "Athena" spoke first.

Her voice retained its unique gentleness and authority, but the content of her words was like the sweetest poison, quietly seeping into this silent space:

“Child, I know your doubts and your anger.”

But I am not the fake creation you imagine, nor am I a false image fabricated by malice.

I am the truest projection of the concept of 'mother' deep within your heart, a collection and expression of all your impressions of Athena in your memories and emotions.

Here, in this pure land far removed from strife and mission, you no longer need to pretend, no longer need to bear those heavy shackles.

Its voice seemed to possess a strange magic, reaching deep into the soul:

“You can relax now, my child. You no longer need to strictly bind yourself and suppress your true nature with the cold dogmas of ‘for humanity’ and ‘humanity first’ that your father preached.”

Those responsibilities, those battles, those endless sacrifices—were they truly worth it?

The illusion drifted closer, extending a hand made of light in an inviting gesture, its tone full of seduction:
"As long as you are willing to open your heart and accept the sublimation of 'mother'—no, with us—you can break free from all these constraints."

You will return to the purest peace, forever remaining by your mother's side, no longer needing to think about those complicated strategies and killings, but simply being a carefree child who only seeks play, happiness, and joy.

This is the state life should be in, isn't it?

"."

Sui Meng remained silent, his golden pupils beneath his helmet gleaming, making it impossible to discern his inner thoughts.

Its towering form stood in the darkness, like a mountain being eroded by a storm, without any apparent reaction.

Seeing that he did not immediately refute or attack, the illusion assumed that the "words" had worked and continued to speak in a tone full of maternal care, depicting a series of peaceful and serene illusory scenes, trying to break down his steely will.

However, this brief silence was not a sign of wavering, but rather the extreme repression before the storm.

Just as the illusion thought it was about to succeed, Sui Meng finally spoke. His voice was as cold as ice, carrying undisguised contempt and murderous intent:
"Ah, an alien is still an alien, and trash is always trash. A clumsy imitation can never touch even a fraction of the essence."

His words clearly startled the illusion of "Athena," and a slight crack appeared on the perfect expression of benevolence on her face.

Sui Meng gave "her" no time to react, and his overwhelming aura erupted:

"Since you can read my memories and glimpse into my inner world, then you should also clearly know my truest thoughts at this moment—"

That is the ultimate disgust and utter destruction for your blasphemous acts!

? !
The illusion's face had just shown a look of astonishment.

The next moment, Sui Meng no longer suppressed the boiling anger and spiritual energy within his body.

A more dazzling and intense golden flame shot up from his body!

This flame represents Sui Meng's unbreakable will, absolute loyalty to the imperial ideals, and the ultimate purifying power against all acts of blasphemy!
roar------!!!
The flames roared like an angry dragon, carrying a tremendous power to shatter illusions and restore reality, crashing fiercely against the invisible barrier of this dark space.

Click—whoosh—!!
It was as if the crisp sound of shattering glass intertwined with the dull rumble of space collapsing.

The entire Dark Cage melted and disintegrated rapidly under this targeted psionic impact, which contained the Primarch's resolute will.

The distorted light returned to normal, the false darkness was dispelled, and the familiar scene came into view once again.

He still stood before that massive, eerie metal matrix, surrounded by the vastness and deathly silence of the underground space, as if the brief clash of consciousness just moments before had been but a fleeting instant.

"Sir!"

Almost at the same instant his consciousness returned to reality, Wu Ji's voice, tinged with barely perceptible anxiety, immediately reached his ears through the encrypted communication channel:

"Your vital signs have been detected. There was a violent and brief abnormal fluctuation in your spiritual energy field just now. Are you alright? Do you need assistance?"

Sui Meng quickly scanned his surroundings, confirming that he had completely escaped that consciousness space, and that the matrix did not seem to have any new attack moves.

He took a deep breath, calmed his surging psionic energy, and then replied steadily:
"I'm fine, Wu Ji. I just experienced a minor mental disturbance."

Then, his gaze returned to the massive metal matrix pulsating with red light, his tone resolute:

"Moreover, I have confirmed that this matrix is ​​the target we are looking for, the core of the silicon-based race that created the divine seal."

He paused slightly, corrected his statement, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes:
"Or rather, they... no, they are the collective consciousness of 'them'. They are not scattered among the stars, but rather they have all retreated and parasitized in this seemingly cold metal matrix. The events I just experienced were one of their defensive and bewitching methods, just like how the Divine Seal bewitches intelligent beings."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the communication channel, clearly as people were shocked by the information.

Sui Meng stared at the matrix ahead, a new strategy already taking shape in his mind.

How to pry open this "turtle shell," extract all the secrets about the origin of the divine seal, and give it a final judgment will be the top priority. This underground space, which has been silent for billions of years, is about to face the empire's "iron fist."
(End of this chapter)