Chapter 57: Eye of the Storm (7)
“Who are you? What are you here for?”
Before the missile tore through the night, the Church’s elite had already stormed the first medical shelter.
Seeing armed troops breach the entrance, the shelter’s director—an elderly doctor with white hair—pushed through the crowd, standing frail but defiant before the intruders.
Behind him, trembling medics and furious, terrified patients.
The Church soldiers ignored his questions, silently fanning out, their dark barrels leveling at everyone in the shelter…
The oppressive silence was more suffocating than gunfire.
“Dear sir.”
Murphyxia’s polite voice came from the rear.
She stepped through the parted soldiers, smiling warmly at the old doctor:
“We mean no harm. But this city has been tainted by unholy war…”
“Soon, divine judgment will descend, purifying all.”
Her gaze swept over the hostile eyes around her, her tone still gentle.
“I’ve given our artillery this location’s coordinates. In two minutes, this place will be leveled.”
—What?!
The doctor’s bloodshot eyes widened, lips trembling, unable to believe his ears.
“You… are you insane?! This is full of wounded! Civilians!”
“That’s why I’m giving you a choice.” Murphyxia tilted her head, expression innocent.
“One hundred ten seconds left.”
“You—!”
“Take them and go, sir. Time waits for no one.”
With that, she ignored the stunned doctor, turning to her captain: “She’s not here. Next location.”
The second hospital put up fiercer resistance.
A small Eisenburg garrison, using the building’s cover, clashed brutally with the Church’s troops.
“Divine Envoy, they’re holding us in a stalemate,” a Church officer in armor reported, crashing through a second-floor window, debris flying.
“This hospital’s too close to the industrial zone—Eisenburg’s exosuit units could reinforce any moment!”
Murphyxia stood by a wall, listening to the nearby gunfire, her brows slightly furrowed, shaking her head:
“Bomb it.”
“But, my lady, our men are still inside…” the officer hesitated.
“We don’t have time to waste. If they can’t handle this, their sacrifice is meaningless.”
“Seraphina will be back soon…” Murphyxia calculated the other envoys’ strength, her voice devoid of regret. “They can’t stop the [Valkyrie] for long.”
Not here either…
She looked southeast, toward the last relatively calm district.
No more delays.
Before the artillery struck and the hospital collapsed mid-firefight, she left the main force, a lone purple phantom racing to the final, smallest target—
The Second Medical Station.
…
“I’m here to protect you…”
Warm breath grazed her ear, cold steel pressed against her side, and Mili’s body froze.
Her exhausted mind, already drained, was overwhelmed by this sudden threat.
Protect?
With a gun to her side, this was protection?
Mili turned in shock, finally seeing her captor clearly.
A face too perfect for words…
Skin smoother than fine ivory, flawless, glowing with an otherworldly halo under the station’s dim lights…
Her rare ash-gray hair, intricately braided and pinned with bone ornaments, was both classical and solemn…
Those deep purple eyes, like nebulae, gazed at her with warmth.
But behind that warmth lurked a chilling fervor…
“Look at you.”
Murphyxia sighed, her eyes tracing Mili’s blood- and dirt-stained uniform, her tone filled with genuine pity.
She twirled the pistol like a dagger, raising her other hand to gently wipe grime and blood from Mili’s cheek, as if handling a priceless treasure.
“Imprisoned by that tyrant, forced to toil in this filthy place…”
“Truly heartbreaking.”
Her voice was low, soothing, but Mili felt only dread.
She tried to pull back, but the hand on her neck held like a vice.
Murphyxia, seemingly delicate, was unnervingly strong…
“Come with me, Saintess.”
“Only under the Church’s protection will you find true glory.”
She lifted Mili effortlessly, like a disobedient kitten.
“No…” Mili pushed weakly, her voice hoarse. “I don’t know you… let me go…”
“You will know me.” Murphyxia leaned close, whispering for her alone.
“The war will end soon, and the queen’s tyranny will fall…”
“I won’t hurt you, as long as you obey.”
“If you make a sound or resist…”
Her gaze shifted to a nurse tending a patient nearby, ensuring Mili saw her line of sight.
“I can’t guarantee my men won’t see everyone in this tainted station as your enemy, in need of ‘purification’…”
“You don’t want more innocents dying because of your choice, do you?”
Murphyxia smiled, pressing a slender finger to her lips, signaling silence.
“…”
A blatant threat.
Mili’s eyes left her face, glancing at the struggling wounded and exhausted medics, gripped by deep powerlessness…
She had no choice.
“That’s right~”
Murphyxia smiled, satisfied.
“You’ll be the new world’s only holy light.”
She pulled Mili through the chaotic hall toward the station’s exit.
The pandemonium was her perfect cover.
No one noticed the quiet abduction in the corner…
“Wait! You there! What are you doing?”
“Little Black! Lit—”
Bang—!
…
Through a cluttered back alley, a black military transport waited in the shadows.
The door opened, Church elites standing guard.
Mili’s face was pale, dirty, her lips pressed tight in silent defiance.
She didn’t know this woman.
But anyone could guess—her fate with her would be no better than with Seraphina…
Or worse.
“Divine Envoy!”
As Murphyxia prepared to push Mili into the vehicle, a sentry rushed over, voice strained with suppressed panic.
“Enemy activity at the southwest breach!”
“—The [Valkyrie] is closing in fast!”
Lin Lan?
“She’s more persistent than I thought.” Murphyxia showed no surprise, as if all was planned. “Proceed as—”
Her words were cut off by a terrifying explosion from Eisenburg’s distant ruins.
BOOM—!!
The ground shook, as if a dragon stirred!
A fireball rivaling the sun rose in the southern sky, briefly illuminating the city.
Their shadows stretched long…
A missile?
The Church soldiers’ faces paled with shock.
“My lady! The fourth jammer station… destroyed!”
“Tactical ballistic missile! Nuclear!!”
“Their south district command system’s back online!”
“Our other jammers are being targeted!!”
Murphyxia’s comm buzzed with her captain’s frantic report.
“Understood.”
She calmly cut the line, gazing at the lingering firelight, a flicker of admiration in her eyes.
—Eisenburg used tactical nukes.
“Such quick reaction, so decisive…”
“Worthy of Seraphina.”
She didn’t board yet, instead pushing Mili into the vehicle and striding back to the station’s hall.
Under her men’s confused stares, she reached the camera’s position, raised her pistol, and aimed at the hidden lens…
Bang—!
“We’re leaving.”
Murphyxia boarded the transport, squeezing Mili into a corner.
The door slammed shut, sealing them from the world.
But as the vehicle started, the comm erupted with urgent, trembling reports.
“Report!”
“East… east side… the three envoys sent to ambush the supply convoy…”
“All… wiped out!”
“Eisenburg’s [Valkyrie] is returning! With an armed helicopter! Heading full-speed to the east wall!”
What?!
Even the Church elites in the vehicle lost their composure.
Three envoys—top-tier Church forces…
Gone?
But it wasn’t over.
“Report!!”
The lookout’s voice, warped by fear, screamed through the comm.
“West… northwest! New target detected!”
“A… a silver heavy armor!”
“Gods… it’s… it’s flying!”
“It’s in the sky!!”
The news struck like a hammer.
Flying?
Heavy armor flying?
That defied all known physics!
Everyone grasped their dire situation.
Silence gripped the cabin.
East: the [Valkyrie] that annihilated three envoys, with a gunship…
Southwest: another unstoppable top-tier armor…
Northwest: an unheard-of silver phantom breaking technological limits…
A three-sided trap.
A perfect net.
The wasteland’s deadliest ground forces were closing in…
They were in a death trap.
Soldiers gripped their weapons, sweat dripping, breathing ragged, their fear unmasked.
Murphyxia felt her men’s spreading panic but sat calmly, looking at the girl she held tightly…
She even leisurely smoothed her ornate envoy robe.
Her purple eyes swept the terrified faces, her lips curling into a serene yet chilling smile:
“Why panic?”