Execution by Order of the Governor

"What mesmerizing colors!"

Malai stared at the dazzling azure liquid inside the glass tube.

The liquid's colors shifted faintly, like the pulse of life.

He restrained the urge to experience this great power himself and forced his gaze away.

For now, he could not yet return to the embrace of the Lord of Ten Thousand Eyes.

He had to preserve his life for the moment, to offer a more important sacrifice to Him!

Malai pulled out another sharp dagger and looked at Alila.

"You should feel honored to have the chance to bear the power of the Lord of Ten Thousand Eyes. Your lowly life will be elevated!"

The moment Malai produced the blade, Alila's pupils dilated.

"God-Emperor, you... what are you going to do to me?!"

"Don't be afraid. What I'm going to do is very simple.

I'll cut open your stomach and place this bottle containing great power inside...

When the Emperor ascends to heaven, you will appear among the reveling crowds.

Before that hypocritical statue of the Emperor, your womb will nurture the offspring of the Lord of Ten Thousand Eyes!"

Malai rambled on, but Alila could barely understand him.

She only knew that this terrifying Heretic before her wanted to cut open her stomach!

God-Emperor, was she going to die here?

Alila closed her eyes in despair. She no longer even had the desire to pray.

Because her heart was dead.

She now understood completely that no one cared whether a lowly worker like her lived or died.

Neither the God-Emperor nor the Governor.

Their gazes had never lingered on her, not even for a moment.

They did not care!

Seeing Alila close her eyes without struggling at all, Malai lost the desire to keep talking.

Forget it. These lowly mortals could never understand true greatness.

He walked over, ready to cut open the woman's stomach and stuff the bottle of Chaos Essence inside.

Yet just as he took a step, he hesitated.

Footsteps?

In that moment of hesitation—BOOM!

The steel door was struck from outside, smashing inward and embedding deeply in the wall!

Carter and two other Custodes rushed in, charging straight at Malai.

Malai reacted swiftly, and he was even somewhat delighted.

He could personally bear that great power now!

Malai's raised right hand rapidly swelled as he thrust the Chaos Essence toward his own chest!

Thank the Queen of Ten Thousand Eyes for her generous gift. Life would be elevated!

He roared.

"Damned lackeys!"

"Huh?"

Malai froze as spurting blood splashed across his face.

Where was his hand?

At first, he simply could no longer sense his hand. Then searing pain struck him!

"Ah!"

Just moments ago,

the arm holding the Chaos Essence had been torn off by brute force!

Malai looked up at Carter, the over-two-meter-tall captain of the Praetorian Guard. The man's huge hand held Malai's severed arm.

For the first time, he felt the terror of the Custodes!

"Catch!"

Carter tore the Chaos Essence from the severed arm and tossed it backward.

One of the Custodes behind him raised a hand to catch the bottle of Chaos Essence, then sealed it inside a specially made containment unit at his lower back.

Once the containment unit was sealed, not even a bomb could open it without the password!

Now, they only had to deal with the Heretic before them.

"Protect that lady!"

Carter issued another order. According to the Governor's command, every citizen had to be protected as long as the mission's success could be ensured!

As soon as he spoke, the Custodes carrying the Chaos Essence turned and walked back, using his broad body to stand in front of Alila.

Looking at the Custodes before her, Alila was overwhelmed by the joy of surviving a disaster.

She recognized these armored Big Guys.

They were the War Angels under the Governor's command!

God-Emperor, the Governor had truly sent people to save her!

At that thought, Alila's eyes welled with tears, and a faint trace of regret rose in her heart.

She should not have said so many bad things about the Governor in her heart before!

"Ah!"

Malai's wail rang out.

Just as Alila was swept up in her fervent emotions,

Carter suddenly seized the Heretic Malai and hurled him onto the sharp hooks on the wall.

Those were the hooks Malai had used to execute those pitiful women. Now, he himself was hanging from them.

"Heretics are forbidden in the Palatine District!

On behalf of the Governor, we carry out your execution!"

"Rat-a-tat-tat!"

Carter and another Custodes raised their Bolters together and unleashed a fierce barrage, nearly blasting Malai into a rag doll.

Only a shattered cervical spine still connected half of his head.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Malai's dangling head suddenly lifted, and he looked at everyone with contempt.

"You can't kill me, because the ritual has already been completed!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the ritual circle in the room flared with an eerie blue light.

The array seemed to come fully alive, drawing in all the flesh and blood used for the sacrifice around it.

It gathered all that flesh and blood onto Malai's body.

Malai's ruined life force grew stronger and stronger. His body repaired itself, rapidly swelling into a terrifying monster over two meters tall.

He snarled, his hateful gaze fixed on everyone.

"The Lord of Ten Thousand Eyes has cast His gaze upon me. He has granted me power!

Ah, what magnificent power!

Lowly insects, are you ready to die?"

Through a gap, Alila saw the terrifying monster.

Fear enveloped her again.

She turned to run,

but when she saw the Big Guy Custodes firmly blocking the way before her, a sense of security surged through her.

The Custodes should be able to handle this monster, right?

Though Alila still had doubts, she chose to believe.

The angels sent by the Governor would not abandon her!

Malai rose to his feet. The immense power granted by the Lord of Ten Thousand Eyes made him fearless!

He tore off the hook lodged in his back and casually grabbed two lumps of flesh, stuffing them into his mouth to chew!

Yet he still felt Hunger!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Dragging his mangled body forward, he fixed his blood-red eyes on Carter and the others.

"Lowly insects, I'll tear apart your flesh bit by bit, then swallow it into my belly!"

"Are you done talking?"

Carter's firm, steady voice rang out.

"Hmm?"

Malai paused. "Lowly ins—"

"Urgh—"

Carter abruptly raised his hand, clamped Malai's jaw tight, and forced him down onto his knees.

Malai tried to resist, but Carter's strength was too great. He could not break free at all.

Then Carter exerted force again, shoving his entire fist into Malai's mouth and hammering it all the way into his stomach.

Soon, Carter pulled his hand back out.

"Urgh, urgh—"

Malai's face twisted as he glared at Carter with extreme hatred, but then he froze again.

He saw the grenade pins in Carter's hand.

There was something in his stomach!

Just moments ago, Carter had stuffed several Stun Grenades into the Heretic's belly.

"Shields!"

Carter casually threw away the Stun Grenade pins and gave the order.

The two Custodes swiftly deployed their shields, positioning themselves respectively in front of Carter and Alila to cover every blind spot ahead.

"Dammit..."

Malai desperately clawed at his stomach, but it was already useless.

Screee—

BOOM!!!

The Stun Grenades inside Malai's stomach exploded, instantly blasting him into minced flesh as a rain of blood sprayed everywhere!