Late at night.
Olympia was shrouded in smoke and dust raised by explosions and fires. Thick clouds of smoke blotted out the stars and moon, wrapping the entire planet in profound darkness.
Virus Bombs had swept across the ground, followed by repeated strafing from ground-targeting Lances. The once-rugged terrain had been utterly transformed, replaced by a flat, scorched wasteland.
No visible buildings remained on the horizon.
The once-towering fortresses, the once-bustling cities, the once-unbroken mountain ranges—all had been pulverized under orbital bombardment, flattened, vaporized, erased entirely from this world.
Under cover of darkness, Zha Jintai made his way alone through the ruins.
He wore a dark gray cloak, concealing as much of his armor's reflective surface as possible. His steps were swift but cautious, avoiding loose stones that might make a sound.
He held a Chainspear, its blade gleaming faintly in the darkness.
His breathing was steady, his vigilant gaze sweeping his surroundings to make sure no one was following him.
He moved quickly along his planned route, passing through stretch after stretch of ruins, skirting craters and leaping over fissures.
He felt both nervous and eager.
Soon, he would be able to leave this damned place.
He would return to the Legion's embrace and once again roam the Sea of Stars, freely repaying favors and settling grudges.
As for the brothers he had sold out...
A cold smile curled Zha Jintai's lips.
They brought it on themselves. Who told them to choose the wrong side?
A Faust-class Shuttle was already waiting beside a patch of ruins.
Its engines idled with a low hum, the Emperor's Children insignia on its hull barely visible in the darkness.
The shuttle's hatch stood open, light spilling from within to cast a dim yellow patch on the ground.
Acorian, Lord Commander of the Emperor's