Chapter 228

Unlike her initial experience riding the elevator, this trip to the Sarcophagus undoubtedly reminded Nana of her crawling during Catastrophes.

The solidified Pollution, at a deeper level, still manifests not as flames, but as solidified snow.

The hallucinations vanished at this moment, and the sense of reality also faded... This was the fusion and connection between the Warp and reality brought about by a large-scale, high-concentration Collapse Reaction.

Is one reaching out or taking a step? People ask this question from time to time.

Only the ribbons on the Rhodes Island soldiers' armbands, glowing even in the dark, guided them to continue 'forward'.

"... The Pollution has its limits; it can be washed away with water or buried with sand and gravel... The less Pollution that accumulates on the Sarcophagus, the less the Chernobog's functions will be affected."

Watching the Mech-Arts Caster Heavy Drone, Nana shook her head. The Inner Guards continued:

"The task of filling and rinsing... is better suited for drones... the 'Pollution' situation is much more serious than we imagined..."

"If drones can't do it, then we have to do it manually... The Pollution below the 68th floor has solidified into solid matter, so we also got to work, chiseling down the stairs."

Seeing that everyone on Rhodes Island, including its CEO Amiya, sprang into action instantly, and that the two from Rhine Lab also began working after being handed tools, the Inner Guards remained silent for a moment, then took a shovel from the person next to him who was responsible for transporting tools and other items from the rear, and went to the front line to dig out the black ice with Nana.

"So far, your predictions about the condition of the Sarcophagus and your engineering arrangements have all been correct... However, I think there will probably be other things to do after the burial."

"Well, besides burying the Sarcophagus itself and expanding the perimeter around the surface site to monitor the spread of Pollution... we also need to pay attention to the parts connected to the walking devices, especially the city's water pipes; if possible, they should all be kept away from the vicinity of the Sarcophagus."

"... This is a huge project..."

"In my opinion, whether or not someone is willing to do this reveals what kind of person Boris truly is... Rhodes Island sought to cooperate with him because they believed his actions in international trade were more progressive than those of the old Ursus Old Nobility... But after spending time with him, I'm honestly somewhat disappointed."

Listening to Nana's complaints, accompanied by the sound of shovels hitting snow and ice, the Inner Guards replied breathlessly:

"Boris is merely one of the managers of His Majesty's purse... In himself, he may not possess even a fraction of the personal charm that other nobles have."

"So, it was wrong of me to have presumptuous expectations of it?"

Her clothes were open, even part of the connection between the shoulder sleeves and the jacket, Nana was panting heavily... The corrosive effects of Pollution were indiscriminate; even with Collapse Paradigm and Stable-State Maintenance System, maintaining the rationality of a full squad was difficult, and Nana's accumulated heat was quite noticeable...

The Collapse's alteration of reality has affected some of the physics readings in the lowest layer, and the resulting heat buildup forces Nana to reveal Tactical Unit Docking System she has never shown before.

Fortunately, the Inner Guards only glanced at it and didn't think much of it. The atmosphere between the two as they dug together with their tools even had a hint of mutual respect.

"As for Boris, I'll explain things to you once we get up there... Ursus these days won't mistreat those who have served them."

"Then I'll take your good wishes!"

After filling a basket with black ice, Nana handed it to the soldier in charge of transport to carry it to the rear. She also looked intently at the Inner Guards.

"I also assure you that Rhodes Island will do everything possible to protect as many Ursus people as possible from this Pollution leak... even though many have already perished."

"But if it's not dealt with, it will spread throughout the entire city..."

Yes, that's right...

They fell silent for a moment, then quickened their pace again.

Time seemed to pass strangely within the heavily Pollution area, and after everyone had dug through all the sections that needed construction, a cheerful whistle echoed from bottom to top throughout the entire Sarcophagus.

Nana smiled as she watched Amiya and Weedy lead the soldiers carrying supplies and the Ursus engineers towards the construction area... But turning back, Nana's smile faded as she watched the Inner Guards advance deeper into the area, her brows furrowing.

"Hello!"

This was an unusually strong reaction from Nana, who stopped the Inner Guards from approaching the Sarcophagus. Nana knew her actions might be highly suspicious, but she still had to say it:

"Don't go any further, hell is ahead..."

"Don't compare our country's years of experience with Columbia's shallow understanding of less than a year... I have other matters to investigate; Rhodes Island, this is enough for you..."

"What do you mean we can stop here? Didn't we say there's unknown equipment down there whose reactions are unpredictable and dangerous?! And if we go up ourselves and you don't, how are we, Rhodes Island, supposed to deal with Marquis Boris?"

"It's alright. Your dedication and sacrifice are truly evident to hundreds of soldiers... Even if Boris were to order them to do something to you, aside from his loyal followers, the city defense forces probably wouldn't take any action... After all, the mayor is just the mayor, and the City Defense Force are two different systems. You have my guarantee, so don't worry."

Seeing the Inner Guards continue deeper into the area without saying a word, Nana pursed her lips and clicked her tongue.

"Hey! Ah... wait for me... Amiya, I'm leaving the command here to you!"

"Ah... okay..."

As the two continued deeper into the area under everyone's watchful eyes, Amiya had just turned around to respond when a thunderclap suddenly sounded from beneath her feet.

"Huh?"

In an instant, the group, who had just thought they had completed their mission and could return safely, suddenly found themselves standing in the crater of a volcano.

Amidst the violent tremors, Amiya finally came to her senses and, in the shrill voice typical of a teenage girl, shouted:

"Pollution is rising! Everyone, quickly check your work status, and evacuate immediately after completion!!"

PS: Waaaaaaah!

PSS: Different perspectives, that's exactly what I'm saying.

Nana felt that this Inner Guards was much better than those Ursus Nobility who made her grit her teeth, but that didn't mean Nana was willing to let him see the Tactical Unit with Columbia technological features, or the lowest level scene where only the Sarcophagus was Pollution.

This is how things have spiraled downwards, based on the positions of both sides.

While adding another the Dominion wouldn't necessarily Chernobog, it was certainly the final straw that broke the camel's back in the deteriorating relationship between Rhodes Island and Boris.

6th Patriot's Gun: 253 Golden Cicada Shedding its Shell

Passing through the pervasive, Collapse Pollution, traversing the slowly falling or swirling black snowflakes, stepping over rootless blooming flowers, lifting the veil of another world...

The Inner Guards, armed with military knives, cautiously entered the deepest part of the Sarcophagus. Unlike the scene outside, which resembled Catastrophes, the Sarcophagus remained completely Pollution from the ninety-eighth floor onwards.

The lights are bright, the equipment is in good working order, and the reinforced concrete fortress still guards the glory of the Previous Civilization.

As if the chaos outside had nothing to do with the internal situation, an extremely abnormal scene unfolded before the Inner Guards and Nana who followed them.

On the 102nd floor, at the final isolation door of the Sarcophagus, under the light, Nana, whose face was half-hidden by the shadow of her bangs, said weakly:

"... Don't go any further."

"These are the words I told you before... You shouldn't have followed me..."

Turning the saber around, even though they didn't want to admit it, Nana's reaction was clearly suspicious, the Inner Guards pointed his weapon at her:

"So the lowest level really... is related to you... and all of you?"

"I can't say it's completely unrelated, but if possible, I still don't want things to get to that point."

Under the pale light, the semi-transparent combat suit of the girl Feline, gleamed with the light of Originium Arts in operation. Accompanied by the whistle of a turbocharged engine, the Inner Guards were horrified to discover that the 'The Dominion' attached to their weapons was slowly disappearing?!

"Rhodes Island... what are you plotting? What do you want from Chernobog?"

"I've said it several times, I have absolutely no feelings for Chernobog. But the problem is... you, and your predecessors, don't believe me. So this is the only way I can respond... people forget so many things in their lives, why don't you forget what you see today too?"

The Inner Guards responded to Nana's suggestion with a flashing thrust. Nana opened her right hand, and a flashlight-like device Nana her hand from the lower level. A bright red Originium appeared at the bottom of the Sarcophagus.

The saber, barely shrouded in black mist, collided with the Originium Lightsaber, sending sparks flying. The black mist eroded the force field maintaining the stability of the Originium Steam, and the bursting forth crimson Originium Steam violently clashed with the black mist.

Scattered droplets of high- Originium light landed on the cement wall, causing cracks to appear. The annihilation and Collapse Pollution silently altered the surrounding environment... Hollows began to appear in the smooth floor. Black Snow, rainwater, and rootless paintings, driven by the Non-Entropic Applications of the lower Tactical Unit, surged and vaporized along with countless 'The Dominion' gushing out from the Inner Guards, rising upwards along the path the two had descended...

The screams and warnings of young children, the tense urging of soldiers and workers... the Pollution deepened, and those who couldn't tolerate it began to collapse one by one. The chaotic yet persistent voices of the cooperating parties contrasted sharply with the two fighting below. A shared, mutual sorrow swept over the two locked in a stalemate with their weapons.

"... Was all of this just a facade? Rhodes Island!?"

"No, Rhodes Island will deal with this crisis with the same attitude it would take against Catastrophes. Everything is for the sake of more lives. I'm not lying." Lin

"Then why..."

The black, billowing saber slashed at the lightsaber again, which, lacking sufficient fuel, had shortened from a longsword to a short one... But the Dominion couldn't be fortified, and the Inner Guards, constantly evaporating 'Pollution,' were in a less than ideal state.

Seeing Medic's unchanging expression, the fleeting sadness in the Inner Guards's heart gradually filled with the anger of betrayal.

"Why did you betray Ursus?!" Seven

"It's simply a matter of each serving their own master. On my side, there are naturally projects that take precedence over Ursus."

"Traitor--!"

The Dominion erupted again, but where Nana was, Ursus could not possibly be allowed to claim it as His territory. The 102nd floor and the lowest floor were constantly eroded and reduced, eventually mixing with Pollution to become the Warp debris, breaking into fragments and surging upwards.

The mechanical whistle blared, and crimson magical light flickered with the girl's breath. Four Tactical Unit slowly floated upwards from below... passing through the damaged partition and arriving beside their master.

Watching the mechanical arm behind Medic extend and perfectly connect to the four 'shields' that were clearly in the Columbia style, with only a few wisps of black mist swirling around them, the Inner Guards were completely unable to display their combat power, could only watch helplessly as the lightsaber, which had been reduced to only an inch in length, recovered... No, it even changed to a size more suitable for wielding in the air as the girl floated.

It was a divine weapon several meters long, capable of vaporizing everything in its path with a mere swing... Originally a weapon that should only be equipped on Steam Knight or Mechanical Hunter of the same level, it was now displayed before the self-proclaimed invincible 'blade' in a form that a single soldier could wield.

"They've miniaturized that thing to this extent, to the point that it can even suppress the Dominion? Columbia..."

Seeing that the Inner Guards on her, Nana resisted looking at the state of the Sarcophagus and raised Inner Guards lightsaber down at them:

"... Final announcement: Rhodes Island has no intention of harming Ursus or Chernobog. Our battle will only affect the upper echelons' repair progress. If you are truly concerned for Chernobog and the movements of the rebels outside the city, then please lay down your weapons. I will guarantee your safety under international law."

Hearing Nana's words, the Inner Guards seemed to be stunned for a moment, then his shoulders twitched slightly, as if he were laughing:

"Ha... you want me to surrender? To have the Emperor's Blades, Ursus's Inner Guards... surrender to a traitor?! Don't think you've secured the high ground, Feline... take a good look at the difference between being an enemy of Ursus and being an enemy of Ursus!"

With a flourish of his sword, to Nana's astonishment, the Inner Guards had already been suppressed to its limit by the Non-Entropic Applications, suddenly stabbed himself in the chest with his military knife.

The torn protective suit flipped over instantly, transforming the humanoid Inner Guards into a pure 'The Dominion,' a black hole-like alien world descending into reality, with a trace of 'Pollution' of self-awareness surging upwards...

Nana knew this was a signal.

The young man with whom he had a pleasant conversation ultimately chose to demonstrate his loyalty to his country in the most foolish and resolute way.

Nana doesn't dislike guys like that, it's just...

"This makes it seem like I'm the bad guy..."

Sheathing her lightsaber, the Halo of the cross gradually grew brighter. Nana's gaze swept over the Sarcophagus, and then she drew the Guardian Gun she had inherited.

The crosshair was aimed at the Pollution mass surging towards the ground overhead. As infinite light focused on the muzzle, the body lay horizontally in mid-air, the Tactical Unit unfolded, and the vector nozzle began automatic trimming to counteract the recoil of the upward shot.

"... Me too, I have things I want to protect..."

Pulling the trigger, a total of .357 Magnum fired in unison, 'Judgment' was delivered.

Was it because of injustice? Or was the shooter himself hesitant? What should have been pure white was now like blood, as if it had been stained red by the vengeful spirits of the innocent dead.

The crimson light pierced through the reinforced concrete partitions as it rose upwards, and a blood-red pillar of light surged through the skylight, dissolving all conscious impurities it touched along the way... With a soft sigh from the girl, the crimson pillar of light broke through the sealed outer shell of the Sarcophagus and spread out in the shape of a cross hundreds of meters in the air.

Even though Nana tried her best not to hurt anyone else, the light cannon still vaporized everything in the courtyard.

Even though the Ursus mechanics sensed the high-energy reaction below and tried their best to maneuver the drones carrying the wounded or medical supplies to the side... facing the full-power fire of Nana and the four Tactical Unit, even a slight glancing blow instantly carbonized the stretchers along with the wounded inside. The sturdy shell of the D32 Steel drone turned crimson in an instant, and the carbon fiber fuselage was torn apart by the surging 'light'...

The courtyard collapsed, and everything there was reduced to carbon blocks or molten steel as it fell to the ground.

Those who walked back up the stairs on foot seemed luckier, but disaster doesn't particularly favor anyone...

The black mist, squeezed by the storm of Judgment, accelerated its flow and became a tempest, with Pollution surging upwards along the stairs and rapidly spreading outwards around the blood-red cross.

Previously, there were distinctions between eroded and uneroded areas of the Sarcophagus, but now not a single area is safe, including the last thirty floors still under construction. The black storm indiscriminately devours everyone.

"Damn it... too late!"

Watching Weedy and the drone take over from the fallen engineer to continue the final work, Amiya shook her head, still slightly dizzy from the bright light, and stood up, shouting towards the chaotic scene of screams and cries:

"Rhodes Island has better defenses, leave this place to us! Everyone else, start evacuating immediately!" "Little Bunny, are you looking down on us?!"

The engineer, who had also recovered, responded to Amiya. The elderly man waved his hand slightly, and seeing that he couldn't interfere with the black cyclone, he simply ignored it and lifted the superconducting component dripping with black water from the Black Snow.

"With just a few of you... how long will it take to restore power... and how long will it take before the outside can begin filling in the rubble...?"

"But... now at the very bottom..."

"We already mentioned it on the surface; the lowest level is dangerous, right? The Inner Guards and your superior officer also warned us about it. Wasn't this situation expected?!"

One pair, two pairs... The accompanying soldiers, regaining their senses, reached out their scarred hands and lifted the heavy components.

Just as everyone had carried it into the Sarcophagus by hand, they now lifted the components together once more, and Weedy and the two autonomous drones expressed their gratitude with their actions... speeding up construction, that was the best way to thank them!

The crimson pillar of light began to shrink and dissipate, and the whistles of the entire team sounded one after another. Soldiers and engineers returned to their posts, and even the Infected miners who had just finished clearing the 'mud, black ice, and asphalt Flame Mountain's and were preparing to leave once again picked up their tools and joined the fight against the black storm.

No one here is worthy of the name Ursus.

But as she watched the Black Snow creeping up from below again, Amiya hesitated for a moment before taking off the ring, but then a white figure blocked her way.

"Amiya, continue commanding. I'll handle the upward spread of Pollution."

As they spoke, an enamel shield slammed into the ground, and the white-haired Vouivre raised his right hand, covering everyone's equipment with Calcification coating. Saria herself, like a tree taking root, formed a wall along with the Calcification.

At that moment, Weedy was holding two screwdrivers of different sizes in her mouth, closed the relay cover and turned on the communicator:

"The circuit switching on the lowest floor is complete! What about the circuit breaker status on the other floors?!"

[It's Chief Engineer Wen... who... has... only completed 80% of the work on the entire... floor!]

Seemingly due to the Pollution storm, the radio signal was intermittent, but Weedy still clearly heard the final data report. Her hand was now on the final switch; pulling it would change Chernobog's power supply mode...