Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1544 The Lunar War (56)

"Things that can't be killed are always annoying."

"I had no idea you had such a sense of humor, Hammurabi."

Derrick first had his powered armor disassembled with the help of technicians in the Immortal City, receiving more comprehensive medical services beyond his life support system. Amon and Hannibal also needed to replace their armor and weapons, and replenish their energy for the upcoming work. Compared to counter-espionage and counter-assassination work, fighting on the front lines was far more enjoyable, even against extradimensional psychic entities—as far as Derrick knew, Constantine's Guardian Order had uncovered more than five assassination plots targeting the Emperor and other important officials within just one month—and in retaliation, the Guardian Order had also sent assassins to kill key enemy officials. However, none of those assassination news made the newspapers; after all, if a high-ranking CIA official stationed in Eastern Europe was found dead in his office, his head severed and placed on his desk, anyone would start an investigation rather than publicly notify the media.

"Shouldn't you be with Him right now?"

"The Commander has taken on this responsibility," Hammurabi said. Serving as the Royal Guard's logistical and transport vehicle, this tracked armored personnel carrier, along with the Emperor's command vehicle, was transported to the battlefield by the Eagle-class assault transport ship, though its gold paint job was rather conspicuous. "He will now oversee the battle from within the command vehicle until the enemy leader appears. He promised to give Black Bolt a dignified death, but only Black Bolt; the mutants will receive no mercy."

"I have too little information. If I knew more, this hunt might not have dragged on for so long." Even as a miniature, spider-like automated battlefield surgeon sutured his facial skin, Derrick didn't even flinch. His lips were thin, and his blond curls were shaved short, making his facial features appear even more angular. However, this didn't detract from his good looks; after all, every member of the Royal Guard was outrageously handsome. Derrick knew the various parameters of the Royal Guard's power armor. The fact that power armor capable of withstanding tank shells could be breached by an extradimensional spiritual entity was somewhat incomprehensible to him. "Why are numerical symbolism so important to extradimensional spiritual entities? Is it just superstition? Why are those mutants so obsessed with their dark faith, even at the cost of their lives?"

"Don't rush, Derrick. Some knowledge isn't suitable for psychological indoctrination," Hammurabi said. He glanced at the Sisters of the Blood standing guard outside the crew compartment; heavy weapons personnel, including Aura, were providing surveillance for this logistical armored tracked vehicle, far from the front lines. Even with disagreements over protecting the Emperor's safety, the Royal Guard and the Sisters of the Blood had to unite on this mission. After all, even with genetically modified soldiers occupying the elevators connecting the upper and lower decks, there was no guarantee that mutants wouldn't try to flank them through secret passages.

"You will join the study group. When the battle is over, you can apply during our nightly reading sessions to discuss the details of the campaign. If the commander deems you knowledgeable enough, you will be able to learn more secrets," he said. "However, I can tell you part of the answer first. Dark faith is more deadly than conventional superstitious religion. Religion influences thinking, and dark faith, while influencing thinking, also causes quite severe brain damage, leading to even worse psychological patterns. Worse still, dark faith is everywhere; sometimes, simply changing a few words in a so-called holy book can cause a tragedy. Participants have no idea what they've joined, but due to long-term participation, their specific behavioral patterns are reinforced, becoming part of the ritual. I suggest you read the relevant cases in the library; Kamar-Taj has collected many cases for reference."

"That sounds terrible."

"If you've ever seen an adult woman give birth to the body of a deformed adult male, you'll know there are worse things in this world. For ordinary people, that scene is enough to drive them insane."

"What about that monster that calls itself the Slaughter? Why is it bound to reappear?" Derrick asked first. "We've already destroyed the ritual."

“That’s a wizard’s ritual,” Hammurabi said. “If the Inhumans of Attiran mobilize all civilians for the war, then mass slaughter will be inevitable. Extreme fear and belligerence will create a significant surge in the Aether Sea, and that monster, whose ideology is slaughter, may very well break through the already fragile veil of reality here and reappear from a dimensional rift whose location we don’t yet know.” He glanced at the book stored in a top-secret box beside him. The box was covered with runes engraved by the ascetics of Kamar-Taj, and protected by a force field generated by advanced technology, locking the state of every atom to ensure the item itself would not be damaged. “Perhaps that book will help us find that portal, but there’s no time now.”

"You did a great job, Malcolm. I can't think of anything else to add."

Legion Commander Malcolm bowed his head and humbly accepted the praise.

Although the staff had prepared numerous contingency plans before the battle, selecting and modifying the appropriate plans to ensure the tactics suited the current situation was a true test of the commander's information filtering and on-the-spot judgment. Under his command, the genetically modified warriors and highly mobile armored units had breached what the Attilan Inhumans called their "fourth line of defense." This was the main thoroughfare on the upper deck of Attilan Fortress, leading directly to the settlements of the Attilan civilian clans, the location of the so-called Genetic Council.

Since the strategic objective was not to directly seize the enemy's administrative center, Malcolm did not adopt a plan proposed by the staff to deploy most of the armored units and genetically modified soldiers to participate in urban warfare in civilian clan settlements. Instead, he deliberately used short-range artillery, armored forces, and genetically modified soldiers to divide and surround the Inhuman soldiers of the Fourth Line, while simultaneously opening several passages to force the Inhuman soldiers to retreat. He found that the Inhuman soldiers of the "Fourth Line" had improved in terms of organization and even fought many brilliant counter-encirclement maneuvers. However, due to their inferiority to the genetically modified soldiers in many decisive battlefield factors such as firepower, willpower, experience, equipment, and organization, many of the Inhuman coalition forces that launched counterattacks were still at a disadvantage and were completely annihilated by the First Combat Group led by Aparisha.

"These mutants' strategy is to drag us into urban warfare, my lord. Those mutants engaged in mobile warfare are buying time for our evacuation," Malcolm said, pointing to the Aparisha's achievements on the data panel. "In relatively confined areas, our short-range artillery and individual guns cannot exert their full advantage, and the mutants' physical prowess and psionic technology are likely to hinder our operations. I've noticed that while the enemy's organization has improved considerably, according to feedback from frontline troops, mixed mutant units still suffer from command confusion, incompatible equipment and ammunition, and even differences in living conditions. Especially the difference in living conditions; rear research reports that, apart from civilian clans, other mutants seem to have different safe food supplies... Therefore, when ordering the division and encirclement of the fourth line of defense, I deliberately used artillery to disrupt the enemy's evacuation formation, forcing different mutant clans to retreat to their respective settlements, resulting in chaotic troop organization. I believe that regardless of whether our offensive pace slows down, the enormous logistical problems will cripple the Attilan mutants' administrative and military systems."

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(End of this chapter)