Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1246 The Eve of the Decisive Battle (Part 2) (First Update)

Lead-gray clouds surged rapidly in the sky, toxic volcanic ash combining with cumulonimbus clouds and drifting into the distance driven by strong winds. The scalding black sulfide rain was highly corrosive; although its duration was short, it appeared more frequently as the frequency and intensity of earthquakes increased. What began as mere raindrops lasting about a minute had now become a twenty-minute torrential downpour of sulfides. Even though the Fire Knights reacted quickly, covering the heavy artillery with rainproof cloths to prevent water from entering the barrels, and then ordering the armored vehicle crews to activate the sealing procedures and retreat to a safe area to await further orders.

But for ordinary people who have no protection, the threat of sulfide black rain is quite deadly.

While burying the tribal warriors who had fallen in the previous battle, Onuratu ordered all non-combatants in the tribe to begin work. Girls and old women brought rainwater purification devices to filter out chemically-smelling water, which they used to wash the acid rain-scalded wounds of the people seeking shelter. Painkillers originally intended for the life support and medical systems of the Fire Knights' power armor were diluted and injected as anesthetics into civilians injured by mudslides, acid rain, and other causes.

The rebel camp was filled with agonizing cries. Onuratu, the legitimate ruler of Paititi, walked through the camp, feeling as if she had entered a strange place, not the stronghold where her husband had lived for so long after his bizarre wish to escape the Kukulkan Cult. She even saw mechanics using bio-prosthetics to assist in field surgery—or acting as operating lights, depending on the type of bio-prosthetics they chose, but most low-level Martian technicians had prosthetics with powerful lighting equipment—even the Fire Knights, as combat personnel, were busy loading ammunition and cleaning their power armor, preparing for battle.

Only the superstitious Yasok people were idle, completely out of place with the others. Their queen, Scarlet Fire Chakcher, was still leading her people in eating, seemingly devoid of taste, showing no interest in the high-calorie protein rations. Onuratu was surprised to discover that the Yasok people living near Paititi were not entirely barbaric; they made fairly traditional cornbreads. However, after making them, they didn't eat them or share them with anyone, but instead placed them before a hastily carved shrine whose owner was barely discernible.

The forecasts from meteorologists are quite pessimistic.

The west coast of South America is located on the famous Ring of Fire, and Paititi, where they live, is situated at the junction of the Amazon rainforest and the Andes Mountains, inevitably affected by volcanic eruptions. Just recently, they had witnessed distant mountains glow with orange-red flames, like smoldering paper balls, standing out starkly in the increasingly dim environment—volcanoes of varying sizes along the Andean volcanic belt, including Heraptina, Zabancaia, Misti, Koluma, and Julius, had begun erupting to varying degrees just hours earlier.

The prophecy of Quetzalcoatl's awakening has reached its final stage. Erupting volcanoes will reshape the world, and geological changes will affect the weather to varying degrees. Large amounts of volcanic ash are being blown into the Pacific Ocean by southeasterly winds, and numerous cumulonimbus clouds with thunderstorm risks are forming rapidly and beginning to fall acid rain.

However, the Latvian meteorologists weren't entirely certain, as many had witnessed the Emperor's plane landing in Cuba. That bizarre phenomenon, defying the common sense of atmospheric science, remains a subject of study for meteorologists. Even now, Cuba's weather remains clear, as if the cumulonimbus clouds and monsoons completely ignored the island. This same phenomenon was also occurring in the Latvian province, and everyone was certain it was inextricably linked to the Emperor himself. Therefore, when a bright dawn broke over Paititi, the thunder ceased, and the cumulonimbus clouds dissipated, the Fire Knights' First Company Commander, Aparishia, immediately ordered his men to prepare for battle within three minutes (straightening their filthy battle robes). Their supreme commander was about to return to Paititi to lead them.

Although the transport plane lowered its landing claws, it did not tread on the muddy soil.

The pilot's masterful skill kept the massive aerial fortress hovering at a delicate height above the ground, the winds and heat from the engines drying the shallow puddles at a visible speed. The ground solidified again, the hydraulic ramp doors slowly lowered, and the Royal Guard descended first, followed by their Emperor—this time, the Emperor did not conceal his radiance with a cloak. Constantine and Aparishia, as commanders, stood at the forefront of the array of Infernal Knights. The company commander and four knight captains shouted their orders, and all the Infernal Knights drew their weapons in perfect unison, greeting the Emperor as warriors. All the Infernal Knights were thrilled to witness the Emperor's Titan-like majesty; many who had fought alongside him had dreamed of this day.

Aparisha keenly detected the blood on the Imperial Guard and the Emperor, and the bloodstains on their boots indicated they had endured a brutal massacre. The Seventh Knight Squad of the First Company was originally scheduled to stand by at the Skysword Space Station, but he received a mission briefing from the squad leader, which listed staggering casualties.

Aparisha found it hard to imagine what kind of mission could have resulted in such heavy losses for the genetically modified warriors, especially with the Emperor and the Royal Guard also participating in the battle. However, he didn't have much time to examine the detailed mission report in detail; he only knew that the Emperor had gone to a place called the Temple of Vatum.

Without any pleasantries or idle chatter, the emperor briefly paused to inspect the soldiers. After nodding to them, he strode towards the command post, seemingly satisfied with the discipline displayed by the Fire Knights.

"We've completed our reconnaissance. Their firepower is clear, and radar scans and seismic detection have created a complete topographical map of the Kukulkan Order's encampment." Aparisha and the Knight Captain quickly followed, walking beside the Emperor, but he too could smell an even stronger stench of blood. "The shelling continues, but the frequency has been reduced due to weather conditions, and the irritant gas isn't as effective as expected. Those people won't surrender. The drone captured a photograph resembling the target, Dr. Pedro Domiggs, and based on this, we've devised a strike plan to quickly seize the Chuckcher Dagger."

"Execute your tactics, Aparisha. You are the frontline commander; even I must follow your plans." The Emperor's trust filled Aparisha with pride, completely forgetting his earlier unpleasant encounter with the Royal Guard Commander, Constantine. This kind of hostage rescue operation wasn't the Fire Knights' forte; they were better at slaughter than searching and rescuing. Otherwise, a small squad equipped with jetpacks could have easily annihilated the Trinity mercenaries and the Kukulkan Order.

"Including me in this raid means that I and the Royal Guard will be another raiding force used to achieve tactical objectives. I believe Pedro Domiggs is very likely conducting some kind of dark ritual, and the Fire Knights are not suitable for dealing with such targets. I need the Fire Knights to quickly come to my position to provide support after completing their respective tactical objectives."

"Yes, my lord." Aparisha had no doubts about the emperor's words. "The raid will begin in ten minutes. Please prepare."

"Ten minutes is enough for the assault transport to land on low orbit. I will complete the civilian evacuation before the raid begins, and you can prepare to take over the rest of the company." The Emperor paused, and Aparisha noticed that the Emperor's inner doubts even slowed his steps. "We may die, Aparisha. Quetzalcoatl is a powerful enemy we have never encountered before. You must be prepared for total annihilation." These words made Aparisha tremble. The Emperor was the most powerful human he had ever seen, and he couldn't believe that Quetzalcoatl would make the Emperor utter such a death wish.

"You must know that the path of war we follow is not for personal glory—though there is no shortage of laurels along the way—but personal glory will never be our primary pursuit. This is a dogma that the teaching machine will not teach you. You must choose whether to practice this principle of war so that others do not have to embark on the thorny path of war as we have. The future of the human race is built on this foundation, with generations forging a peaceful and secure future with their blood and sacrifice."

"I will heed your teachings, my lord." Aparisha bowed slightly, her humility drawing Constantine's attention. "For unity, until death do us part."

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(End of this chapter)