Chapter 44: Siege (4)

Meanwhile, five kilometers from Eisenburg’s south gate, inside a derelict church, Murphyxia knelt before a broken statue.

Her purple robe pooled on the stone floor, candlelight gilding her ash-gray hair…

The statue’s eyes were gone, leaving hollow sockets staring down at her prayer.

“Lord, forgive these lost lambs,” her voice, soft and entrancing, murmured. “They know not what they do. Let me guide them to atonement…”

A compassionate smile graced her beautiful face, as if mourning the coming slaughter.

Especially imagining Mili’s terrified expression…

How would those blue eyes shimmer with tears?

What tone would she use to plead?

What a captivating sight that would be…

“Milady, the vanguard is in position,” an officer in a Purification Church uniform reported respectfully from the church’s entrance.

She remained in prayer, unmoving.

In the flickering candlelight, the corners of her mouth curved upward.

“Good,” Murphyxia said softly, her tone as gentle as ever.

“How are the refugees holding up?”

“As ordered, we told them Eisenburg holds vast grain stores—conquer the city, and everyone gets food.”

“Do they believe it?”

“Completely!” The officer’s voice buzzed with excitement:

“Those fools saw our grain samples, and their eyes lit up!”

“An old man even knelt to kiss my boots, thanking ‘the Divine Emissary for giving them hope!’”

A night breeze stirred her robe. Murphyxia shook her head slightly, fingers brushing the stone, then stood and walked to the church’s edge.

“Any word from Seraphina?”

“Confirmed: she left Eisenburg. At least twenty minutes before she can return.”

“During that time, the signal jam will hold. The [White Night Queen] is engaged with the transport team.”

“That’s enough…” She gazed at Eisenburg’s distant tower, its lights flickering in her eyes:

“Begin phase two.”

“Tell the faithful—this is a holy war.”

“To purify this world, any sacrifice is necessary…”

“We will save them.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

As the officer turned to leave, Murphyxia stopped him.

“Wait, one thing to emphasize.” She turned, her purple eyes deep in the firelight.

“No matter what, protect the Saintess at all costs.”

“Not a scratch on our little Saintess… not even a graze.”

“She’s our target and the very meaning of this holy war…”

“Understood!”

The officer stepped into the night, and soon, a horn sounded.

—The Purification Church’s war horn, low and resonant…

It echoed through the ruins, startling distant crows into flight.

Murphyxia peered through the wreckage, watching the refugee tide move toward Eisenburg.

They waved white flags, shouting, “Save us!” “Give us food!”…

Behind them, the true force quietly deployed.

Missile vehicles adjusted angles, rocket teams took cover, gunners checked ammo, armored vehicles’ engines rumbled…

“Poor lambs…” Murphyxia stroked her chest emblem, complex emotions in her eyes.

“May your sacrifice earn the Saintess’s mercy and salvation…”

“I believe… she’ll come to save you.”

…

Boom—!

The first shell exploded in the refugee tide, a massive fireball swallowing a dozen lives in a blink…

Blood and flesh painted a gruesome scene, leaving the wall’s machine gunners ashen. Some young soldiers vomited.

The bombardment didn’t stop.

Boom—Boom—Boom—!

Shells rained down, each blast claiming dozens of lives…

Screams, wails, and explosions intertwined, staining half the night sky red…

Soldiers gripped their weapons, palms sweaty.

“Damn it! This trick again!” an older soldier cursed. “Always hiding behind innocents!”

“Shut up!” the squad leader snapped. “Focus on targets! Await orders!”

“Goddamn—”

Through the scopes, the refugee tide drew closer…

At the front, a young mother clutched her infant, her face etched with despair and tears.

The gunner’s finger hovered over the trigger, trembling, sweat dripping onto the stock.

“Open fire!” a crackling order came through the radio.

“Sir… those… they’re civilians…”

“Repeat—! All units—static—! Fire! Fire now!!”

“Don’t—static—stop… don’t stop…! Don’t stop—!!!”

“Absolutely don’t stop… absolutely…”

Duty was ironclad.

The gunner bit his lip, face twisted in pain.

But he closed his eyes and pulled the trigger…

Rat-a-tat—

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat—

A single spark ignited a storm.

Machine gun fire erupted in the night, scything through the crowd, felling swathes…

“No… static… don’t stop…”

“Keep moving! Hope lies ahead!”

The mother with her infant fell in a pool of blood, her child still crying.

Yet more pressed forward, driven by fear and hunger, blind to their doom…

Behind them, Church soldiers coldly herded the “shields.”

Fleeing elders were shot, their bodies kicked aside…

The bloody intimidation crushed any resistance.

“Damn this war! So suffocating!” a gunner roared, loading shells. “I’ve been a soldier for years—never done anything this rotten!”

“Fire suppression!! They’re—static—artillery’s deploying!”

“All fire points, engage! Coordinates 28—static—451! Repeat—2! 8! 7! 451!”

“Don’t—static—launchers are—static—”

“Received! Tower Two adjusting aim!” a spotter shouted into the radio, covering his ears.

“Third machine gun post needs ammo! Damn it, we’re almost dry!”

“Where the hell’s their gear coming from?” a secondary gunner coughed, eyes stinging from smoke. “Their firepower’s stronger than ours!”

“Less talk! Aim! Southwest hill! Another armored vehicle!” The captain kicked him, shouldering an anti-tank rocket launcher…

“Don’t—static—stop… don’t stop…”

“Advance! The future’s—”

Boom—!

Eisenburg’s defenses unleashed terrifying firepower.

Machine guns, mortars, anti-materiel rifles…

Everything roared.