“Something has happened in Thousand Towers City.”
At the center of the meeting hall, atop a tall crimson tower, a man dressed in black and wearing a metallic mask gazed out the window. A distinctive light beam pierced through the ground and rose upward—an ultimate warning signal. In ancient times, this would have placed the surrounding hundreds of miles on high alert, with checkpoints promptly sealed off.
“Burning Sun City… Only they could pull off something like this. It seems they’ve discovered the Spiral Fish hidden within Thousand Towers City.”
“Two years ago, Burning Sun City’s T2-grade AI administrator, Black Moon, reached the end of its operational limit and self-destructed. Since then, the city’s systems have gradually fallen into disarray. The Aijeka particles began to interfere with each other, causing the entire region to deteriorate. They must be planning to seize our hidden T2-level AI, Spiral Fish, to repair their failing systems,” replied an elder standing beside the masked man, bowing slightly.
Every city within the Federation operates under the management of T2-grade super AIs. These systems process and optimize information across various sectors, greatly enhancing efficiency in transportation, industry, and daily life, making them indispensable in modern society.
The situation in Northern 2nd District is unique. It operates under semi-autonomous governance, and the Four-Leaf Crystal Constellation Administration has stated they will no longer supply new T2-grade AI mainframes to the region, urging residents to relocate as soon as possible.
However, the three remaining major cities in Northern 2nd District continue to rely on their old T2-grade AIs, defying the constellation government’s directives.
“Bring up the footage,” the masked man ordered, his gaze falling to the gradually dispersing crowd below. With a sharp tap of his sword sheath against the floor, the room echoed with the sound.
“Understood, Your Eminence.” The guards unfurled a large scroll, revealing live visuals of the underground core zone.
The black-clad priests at the vanguard were engaged in fierce combat with the Titan Guardians. Their black wings fluttered as their blazing flame swords gradually dismembered the colossal figures. However, the priests paid a heavy price, losing four members—some burned by the Titan Guardians’ electrified blue blades, others smashed by their swinging arms and crushed into the ground.
“They are nothing more than cornered beasts. This is Burning Sun City’s last desperate gamble,” the masked man remarked calmly, without a hint of panic.
“Truly pitiful. There’s a certain sorrow in watching similar entities meet their demise,” he added, reflecting on how even Thousand Towers City’s survival hung by a thread.
“When the two Titan Guardians fall, let the reserve Divine Generals in the city take action,” he commanded.
“Yes, Your Eminence.”
The decision to hold back was due to the outdated AI controlling the Titan Guardians. Its friend-or-foe recognition system was unreliable, making it prone to attacking allies.
…
In the underground core zone, the small vehicle stopped at a corner near a cluster of palaces and pavilions after driving for some distance.
It was too conspicuous—and dangerous—to proceed further. Any movement risked collateral damage.
“Fighting has already started ahead. Let’s take a detour,” Feng Jianxue suggested, observing the ongoing battle in the distance.
“Mr. Feng Jianxue, do you know another way in?” Hestia asked, cradling the large spider in her arms as she looked toward the barred windows in the distance.
“The inner structures and defenses are different from the outer checkpoint. I’m more familiar with them,” Feng Jianxue explained.
“I come from a lineage that carries on such traditions. In fact, our ancestors share some ties. These forbidden cities guarding divine swords were built using standardized techniques a thousand years ago, collectively developed and perfected by that era’s experts.”
“While there may have been individual modifications over time, the overall designs remain consistent. Follow me,” he said, leading the way.
“Alright,” Hestia nodded. She glanced toward the battling city gates and ran her fingers across the windowsill, leaving behind a faint trace of pale blue crystalline powder.
The two moved swiftly through the palaces and towers. Along the way, they saw many of Thousand Towers City’s guards arming themselves and heading toward the battlefield. Key entry points were heavily guarded by Divine Generals.
Fortunately, they had changed into support guards’ uniforms. Blending into the crowd, they passed without incident. Both possessed distinct Eastern features, making it difficult for outsiders to mimic their appearance or accents.
As they approached the frontline, gunfire and explosions resounded all around. Sparks from bullets flew relentlessly. Hestia even spotted a dark gold Dragon Head Cannon being slowly pushed up a hill.
The cannon’s dragon-shaped head gleamed, its eyes and maw emitting a radiant glow. It drew in surrounding Aijeka particles in a powerful vortex, funneling them into its core. Magic circuits within converted the particles into boiling, destructive energy. The accumulated power, mixed with particle streams from internal crystals, erupted in a blazing golden-red beam.
The blast swept across five black-clad priests, reducing them to ash, and left a charred crater in the Forbidden City’s wall.
Fewer than 20 black-clad priests remained. Just then, the sound of rotor blades filled the air. Burning Sun City’s final wave of reinforcements arrived—16 individuals clutching onto rotor drones with one hand while carrying long rocket launchers in the other. They aimed at the Forbidden City’s defenders, firing shots that streaked through the air and exploded among the crowd. One rocket struck the recently deployed Dragon Head Cannon, destroying it.
“Charge!” With the Titan Guardians finally collapsing, the remaining priests surged toward the breached city gates, leaping into the opening.
Although they watched the enemy enter, the guards outside refrained from rushing into the Forbidden City. According to protocol, only the Divine Generals and the Sword Guardians were allowed to enter this place.
“You all stand down for now. Remain on guard outside. The city is narrow, and too many people might cause more harm than good.”
A leader stepped forward. Under his command, the hundreds of reinforcements halted their advance and began fortifying their positions outside the gate.
While the guards secured the area and cleared the battlefield, preparing for any potential reinforcements from Burning Sun City, Feng Jianxue led Hestia on a winding path. They passed through a crimson bamboo grove and reached a side entrance to the Forbidden City.
“Wait a moment, let me check,” Feng Jianxue said cautiously. Despite his familiarity with the restrictions, he took out a hacking chip to ensure their safety.
A few minutes later, he lowered his personal terminal, gestured to Hestia, and pressed his hand against the light blue riveted door. A faint blue magical current flowed in, and the door slowly rose.
“Quick, we don’t have much time. Grab what we need and leave,” Feng Jianxue instructed before darting inside with incredible speed.
He moved like a shadow, appearing one moment and vanishing hundreds of meters ahead the next, leaving Hestia unable to keep up. Fortunately, the long-sealed side entrance lacked guards, and Feng Jianxue had already dealt with any surveillance devices or autonomous units, allowing Hestia to walk through unimpeded.
Deep underground, the dim lighting and crimson glow of the Forbidden City created an eerie silence, utterly different from the world above. The few residents there were had to be avoided, and Hestia did so carefully.
As they ventured deeper, the silence became almost oppressive. Hestia lost sight of Feng Jianxue but relied on the small tracking devices he had left behind to guide her.
Feng Jianxue only spoke through the earpiece when there were crucial areas to watch out for.
Meanwhile, on the main street of the city, about a hundred Divine Generals in gilded bronze armor stood in formation, their magical weapons in hand. They marched forward with an imposing presence, heading straight for the black-clad priests who had breached the Forbidden City.
Unlike the ceremonial, multicolored armor worn by the Divine Generals outside, these troops wore practical, ancient armor designed for real combat. Their weapons were crafted from magical materials, making them even deadlier.
Ratatatat—
A barrage of machine gun fire sparked harmlessly against the scales of their mountain-patterned armor. The Divine Generals responded with a unified roar, their green and red masks glowing with vibrant colors. The sound struck the black-clad priests like a thunderclap, paralyzing their bodies before they were cut down by a storm of blades.
“Damn it!”
Seeing their firearms rendered ineffective, the leading priest threw his weapon aside and retrieved a special black nail from his belt.
“The Beauty of Pain…”
He murmured as he plunged the nail into his chest, embedding it into his sternum. Only by doing so could he resist the Divine Generals’ divine suppression techniques. The other priests followed suit, discarding their firearms, forming a line, and driving the black nails into their own chests.
A wave of searing pain coursed through their bodies, but their minds cleared, breaking free from the oppressive forces that had frozen their souls.
“Only torment feels this real…” they chanted, reciting the tenets of the Angel of Torment as they drew their light swords and resumed their fight against the Divine Generals.
“Hah, do you think you’re the only ones who can harness external power?” sneered the leading Divine General, his painted face mask twisting into a scornful grin.
He removed a portion of his armor, revealing muscular limbs covered in intricate blue markings interwoven with golden threads. These implants were biomechanical enhancements that amplified his physical strength, enabling feats like tearing through steel and smashing tanks with ease.
Following his lead, the hundred Divine Generals shed their cumbersome bronze armor, revealing their tattooed arms and torsos. Their ceremonial gear was useless against the enemy’s light swords, and its bulk only hindered their agility.
“For heaven’s justice, divine might shall show no mercy! Invoke the deities upon our bodies!”
Their collective shout sent golden light shooting from their eyes as the golden thread patterns on their bodies seemed to come alive, radiating an ethereal glow. White smoke began to rise from their tattoos as nearby Aijeka particles were drawn toward their forms, transforming into a unique magical energy.
The surging magical force created rippling winds down the street. As the hundred Divine Generals roared and advanced, the light swords wielded by the black-clad priests began to flicker, their black flames faltering and dimming.
Golden lightning wreathed their weapons, crackling with each swing. Sparks erupted like a thunderstorm with every strike, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Wherever the Divine Generals passed, enemies were cleaved apart, shattered, and reduced to scorched remnants.
In less than half a minute, no living black-clad priests remained in the Forbidden City.