Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1539 The Lunar War (Fifty-One)

The holographic command panel marked the attack routes for the Chimilian clan and the Attilan royal family (a commoner clan). These two attack routes consisted of a combined offensive by the First and Second Combat Groups, involving the First, Second, and Third Legions, a small number of Sisters of the Legion combatants, and mortal auxiliary troops in the frontal assault. Although the special squads arranged by Malcolm bore the markings of the First Legion, Aparisha was certain he didn't know the commanders of those squads at all, and he believed the commanders of the Second and Third Legions wouldn't know them either—this was just a minor trick in military organization—unlike the ranks and titles used by some countries specifically to legitimize nepotism, these were for secrecy. Before the official emergence of genetically modified warriors, Malcolm, Aparisha, Nelson, and other members of the First Legion were affiliated with the Immortal City's security forces, receiving funding and training to prevent unrelated personnel within the Immortal City from discovering the existence of the genetically modified warrior project through personnel transfers.

Undoubtedly, these special forces were also one of the emperor's little secrets.

Master Wang and Master Wu Guiyue, as the leaders of the two Kamar-Taj sorcerer squads, had led their teams to rest near the command vehicle. This wasn't the first time the First Legion warriors of Aparish had operated alongside the Kamar-Taj sorcerers. In the Paititi and Watum Temples of Peru in South America, the genetically modified warriors had encountered these Kamar-Taj sorcerers. The massacre at Watum Temple, in particular, proclaimed the Emperor's rule over the various schools of magic on Earth, a rule forged by the crown jointly created by Kamar-Taj and the First Legion.

Aparisha assigned a Breakthrough tactical squad, equipped with boarding shields, to both the mage Wang and the mage Wu Guiyue. These massive, square-shaped, arc-shaped shields could almost completely conceal the genetically modified warriors' bodies. During an organized advance, the Breakthrough tactical squad could instantly form a wall, simultaneously unleashing a barrage of fire on the enemy. Before arriving at command, Aparisha had led her guard alongside a Breakthrough squad to eliminate the mutants at the transportation hub—these two squads were tasked with protecting the arcane mages, ensuring their survival until the mission was complete, and also keeping them in check to avoid interfering with military operations—a point on which Aparisha, Malcolm, and Constantine had reached a tacit agreement. The opposing force consisted of Kamar-Taj arcane mages, not considered allies; if their psionic magic malfunctioned, killing them on the spot would be acceptable.

Both of these breakthrough squads are also executioners.

No amount of vigilance is too much when it comes to users of psychic magic. Even the Emperor would not show the slightest sympathy for the Kamar-Taj sorcerers who crossed the line of psychic research. Even though the First Legion warriors followed the Kamar-Taj sorcerers in carrying out the Emperor's mission to incorporate Earth's magical schools, and even though they had fought side by side, the genetically modified warriors, who had little emotional connection with the sorcerers, would not show mercy to them.

If psionicists cross the red lines of conduct set by Kamar-Taj for all schools of magic, they can do almost anything on Earth. Leaving aside conventional methods like curses, assassinations, teleportation, and smuggling, even the simplest manipulation of thought and mind-reading can lead to many shocking acts—bewitching civilians to establish cults; manipulating the will of a tycoon or politician, using power and money to disrupt secular society; brainwashing well-trained soldiers on a large scale to stage a coup and seize power; obtaining nuclear codes, stealing nuclear warheads, and triggering a full-scale nuclear war, etc.—and this is what wizards who don't abuse so-called dark magic can do. The abilities and thoughts of fallen wizards are even more terrifying; the greater their imagination, the greater the harm a professionally trained psionicist can cause.

The moment Kamar-Taj shifts its gaze even slightly, the scale, scope, and social harm of the horrific rituals expand exponentially. In comparison, the actions of incompetent apprentices venturing into the secular world to become magicians seem utterly insignificant and pose no real threat. In the past, Kamar-Taj was short-handed, and many minor offenses were deliberately overlooked. But now, under the armor of genetically modified warriors and their explosive guns, magical schools on Earth are subject to unprecedentedly strict regulations. Including Kamar-Taj itself, the secular power of arcane families has been gradually reclaimed. The power the Sorcerer Supreme entrusted to the Emperor, combined with His own authority and violence, ensures the smooth implementation of these strict rules and regulations.

Master Wu Guiyue, leaning on her renowned Staff of Ten Thousand Laws, idly waited for the breakthrough squad protecting her to board the vehicle. In contrast, Master Xiao Wang was somewhat nervous. He constantly adjusted the airtight switch on his spacesuit's neck collar, then occasionally moved his fingers, wrapped in the multiple layers of polymer fabric of the spacesuit, twirling the Vatum Scepter in his hand, fearing he might not be able to unleash its full power at a crucial moment. "This isn't a battle, Wang," Master Wu Guiyue, as the older and more experienced senior, began to reassure Master Xiao Wang. "Our mission is simply to use our knowledge to identify psionic traces and determine the energy nodes of the summoning ritual. The rest can be handled by the warriors' guns and swords. I'm sure when I get home, Alice will pester me to tell her about what happened on the moon. Instead of wasting your time, why don't you help me think of some stories suitable for a minor girl, outside of the secrecy regulations? I can't exactly tell her about those twisted and terrifying rituals and human bodies shattered by bombs, can I?"

"I'm not used to it," sighed Master Wang. "How did he suddenly become like this?"

Master Wu Guiyue opened her mouth, but ultimately remained silent. Master Xiao Wang was still very young and completely unaware of what the Supreme Master had said to Master Wu Guiyue, Kasirios, and other sorcerers—who were then Temple Guardians—on that night in 1995 after bringing the infant back to Kamar-Taj. In Master Xiao Wang's mind, the highest achievement for a sorcerer was to become a Temple Guardian or a sent-down Guardian, returning to Kamar-Taj headquarters in old age to retire or establish their own school. The pursuit of the Kamar-Taj sorcerers was not the kind of path taken by emperors who had to bow to power for their ideals, sacrificing all their energy, wisdom, and violence.

"He has an inherent responsibility, Your Majesty. Do not question him, nor the Sorcerer Supreme. Their vision is far broader than that of mortals, even beyond our own. If it weren't for the prestige the Sorcerer Supreme has accumulated over a thousand years, some would surely think that the Venerable One and the madman are no different." Venerable Wu Guiyue shrugged. "Even those of us who can only glimpse a part of the future are beyond the comprehension of mortal minds. Our thoughts and actions are utterly incomprehensible to mortals, let alone them… Mr. Aparishia, we are ready to depart at any time."

Aparisha looked down at the woman who barely reached his chest, a forced, emotionless smile on his face. As one of his frequent partners, Aparisha had firsthand experience of Wu Guiyue's profound knowledge of psionic technology. In efficiency-driven operations—except for the Emperor-led massacre at the Temple of Vatum—her extensive knowledge, sharp eyes, and rich experience allowed the genetically modified warriors to achieve twice the results with half the effort. "The escort team is ready," Aparisha said, pointing to the breakthrough squad behind him. "They will escort you to the settlements of the millions of Attilan commoner clans."

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(End of this chapter)