"Yes, so please, spare me..."
"Where is the research base?"
Moros directly cut off Mayor Yang's soul and ordered him to mark the research base's location on the magic map.
He did not yet have the ability to storm the capital of Mu Continent and execute that senator, but that did not mean Moros could not cause the senator some trouble.
A base researching Collapse Energy? In this era, establishing such a base would not have been easy. I hope you like this gift of mine...
Staring at the research base Mayor Yang's soul had pointed out, Moros's eyes turned dangerous.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
As the Fireballs exploded one after another, the gates of the Collapse Energy research base beneath the subway station were blasted apart by Moros's attack.
With Moros's current Mana of fifteen, the Fireballs he cast could inflict an astonishing 240 points of damage.
That destructive power already far exceeded that of a 155mm cannon.
Faced with such a powerful attack, the research base's gates naturally could not withstand it.
"Kill everyone here!"
Moros gave the order coldly. Countless vampires and ghosts answered his summons, pouring into the research base and beginning a brutal massacre.
Against the slaughter of the vampires and ghosts, the base's security personnel had virtually no ability to fight back.
The Pre-Collapse Civilization of this era had only just begun researching Collapse Energy.
Forget advanced equipment such as Divine Keys—even the most basic one-star pistol from the game had not been equipped in this research base.
Under such circumstances, the living people in the research base were quickly wiped out.
"Tell me, where are Frakt and Emma's bodies?"
He piled the researchers' corpses together and used necromancy to extract their souls.
Moros asked impatiently, his face full of anxiety.
Time was running out. Mu Continent's army had already broken through the second-to-last defensive line Moros had set up near the research base.
Even here, he could clearly hear the continuous explosions of shells aboveground and feel the ground trembling slightly.
"Did I just die?"
"What's going on?"
"Who are Frakt and Emma?"
"..."
The souls were filled with confusion and terror, unable to provide Moros with any useful information.
With a cold expression, Moros used Soul Scourge to clear the souls' heads, then repeated his question.
At the same time, he used magical projections to display images of Frakt and Emma before the souls so they could identify them more clearly.
Looking at the projection of the couple, the souls finally provided useful information.
Yet at that moment, Moros wished he had never learned the real answer.
According to the researchers' souls, Frakt and Emma's bodies had already been sent into the crematorium. Even their ashes had been cleared away.
Faced with this cruel reality, an indescribable grief surged in Moros's heart.
He bit his lower lip tightly, trying not to let his tears fall.
"Destroy this place! Then retreat!"
Opening a passage to the Demiplane, Moros withdrew from Mu Continent with the Undead Troops, his face stricken with grief.
After they left, the research base was swallowed by explosions.
Aftermath
Two hours after the research base explosion.
Mu Continent, capital, senator's residence.
"Sir, General Luo has sent word. The mission failed. They were unable to find the mage's remains."
The butler stood respectfully beside a man in his forties, bowed slightly, and handed the report to his master.
The man accepted the report, his brows tightly furrowed as deep disappointment and dissatisfaction filled his eyes.
He knew the grave problems represented by this report.
Forcing a citizen who possessed supernatural powers into rebellion, plunging an entire city into war, and causing thousands of soldiers to die in the battle to eliminate the army of the dead...
Along with the destruction of the research base and the enormous economic losses it caused, all of it left the senator deeply troubled.
Even as a powerful figure, he had a splitting headache at this moment.
"Ugh..."
With a sigh, the senator opened the report and began to review the details and consequences of the incident.
After a while, he rose to his feet and walked over to a filing cabinet nearby.
Pulling out a thick proposal for the establishment of an organization, the senator hesitated for a moment before finally spreading it open and signing his name.
After closing the document and placing it on the desk, the senator closed his eyes and considered what price he would have to pay to clean up after this incident.
On the closed document before him was the emblem of Moth to a Flame.
One day after the research base explosion.
Before the upscale residential complex destroyed by the war, a little girl with two-toned hair stood there, clear tears streaming from her eyes.
Moros, where are you? Are you okay?
The war that had taken place in the city a day earlier had shown Vill-V another side of her dear friend.
The side known as the Necromancer.
When the squad led by Number Zero suddenly barged into the orphanage where she lived, Vill-V had been rather baffled.
But when they told the orphanage matron that they were looking for a little girl named "Vill-V," Vill-V, who had been eavesdropping outside, was instantly terrified.
Fortunately, the orphanage matron was kind-hearted and did not expose her immediately.
Otherwise, Vill-V truly had no idea what fate would have awaited her.
After all, the private soldier squad led by Number Zero did not look like good people.
Then, the ghosts and vampires dispatched by Moros descended like divine soldiers and wiped out Number Zero's entire squad.
At that moment, Vill-V thought she had escaped the tiger's jaws only to fall into a wolf's den.
Considering the appearances of the Cemetery faction's troops, that was entirely understandable.
However, when a ghost floated before her and conveyed Moros's farewell, Vill-V suddenly understood many things.
Though there was still much she did not understand, at the very least, Vill-V knew Moros stood behind the monsters who had saved her.
And for her, that was enough.
After the incident settled down, Vill-V came to this former residential complex, hoping to see Moros once more.
But unfortunately, Moros was no longer on Earth.
To completely erase all traces of the past, Moros had even destroyed the residential complex where he once lived.
Facing the ruins before her, Vill-V could not help but feel an indescribable sadness.
She knew that once they parted, she had no idea how long it would be before they met again.
We will definitely meet again! Definitely!
Making that vow in her heart, Vill-V forcefully wiped away her tears and resolutely left the ruins.
Three days after the research base explosion.
Mu Continent, Canghai City, bus station.
"Recently, a group of terrorists attacked Y City, causing severe casualties and property damage."
The news anchor read from the script in his hand as the footage behind him switched to the ruins of the small city overrun by the Undead Legion.
The dilapidated buildings, shattered glass scattered across the streets, and dark red bloodstains that still remained all told the world of the severity of this "terrorist attack."
"According to eyewitnesses, the terrorists detonated bombs in the town center and opened fire on innocent civilians. Police and security forces quickly arrived at the scene and began rescue and counterattack operations. At present, hundreds have died and over a thousand have been injured, including many women and children..."
As the report continued, the people at the bus station turned their eyes toward the television screen.
Nothing like this had happened on Mu Continent in many years.
More precisely, nothing like this had happened since the war that unified Mu Continent.
"During this attack, Mayor Yang and many other officials sacrificed their lives for the safety of the citizens. However, they were brutally murdered by the terrorists..."
On the television screen, the portraits and names of Mayor Yang and the other fallen officials were displayed one by one.
"This terrorist attack has drawn widespread attention across the nation and internationally. The government has stated that it will make every effort to hunt down the terrorists and punish them severely. At the same time, the government has called on citizens to remain calm, strengthen security precautions, and work together to maintain social stability and safety..."
The screen shifted to present-day Y City, where rescue and recovery efforts were in full swing.
Medical teams and volunteers from across Mu Continent were treating the wounded intensively. Various relief supplies were piled along both sides of the streets, while citizens helped one another and united to rebuild their homes.
"At present, rescue efforts are still ongoing. Medical teams and volunteers are doing everything they can to treat the wounded..."
The television announcer's voice was clear and firm.
Listening to the report on television, a cute pink-haired girl covered her mouth in shock.
Having come from Vostok 51, she had never imagined that such terrifying things existed in the outside world.
"Oh... those people are so pitiful..."
She could not help sighing, tears glimmering in her eyes.
Suddenly, someone gently patted her shoulder.
She turned around and saw a stranger wearing a blue uniform.
"Are you all right?"
the stranger asked with concern.
"Mm. I just think those injured people are so pitiful."
the girl replied.
"Yes, there are always things in this world that we cannot control."
The stranger sighed.
"But at least we can do our part to help them."
The girl raised her head, hope shining in her eyes.
"Is there anything I can do?"
The stranger smiled and handed her a flyer bearing the words "Volunteer Recruitment."
"If you are willing, you can join us and provide some support to those who need help."
The girl accepted the flyer and carefully read the information on it.
"I'm going there to help those suffering people!"
For a girl who loved humanity, she could not choose to turn a blind eye to something like this.
So, she temporarily put aside her search for Elysia's Realm and decided to become a volunteer, heading to Y City to participate in the reconstruction efforts.
Battle Summary and Strength Increase
Time rewound.
After successfully retreating to the Demiplane, Moros immediately checked the battle report provided by the Hero Panel.
Victory! The enemy has been defeated. Your hero has gained 42,204 experience points.
Before you continue