Chapter 52: Retribution
"Fire! Shoot at him!"
The guards shouted as they focused their fire on the Heavy Hammer.
With remarkable agility, he deftly evaded their shots; his metallic prosthetics not only enhanced his speed but also endowed him with an astonishing nimbleness.
After deftly dodging their attacks, Heavy Hammer charged at the guards before him, swinging his battle axe to cleave through every enemy in sight.
After eliminating a group of guards, he plunged into another cluster, repeating this relentless cycle.
His movements were perpetually swift and powerful, his stamina seemingly inexhaustible.
Grott watched in shock as Heavy Hammer dispatched all the guards in the arena, then barreled through another door, effortlessly slaying the sentries before racing into the gladiatorial structure.
Grott hurried to follow him.
Upon entering the door, he discovered it led to the dungeons.
The arena featured two grand entrances—one to the backstage and the other to the cells, which held those destined to become gladiators.
Within were criminals, pit slaves, and other unfortunate civilians, some already injured during training.
Grott intended to rescue them, but Heavy Hammer had already severed the chains locking every cell door.
Just as Grott believed Heavy Hammer was freeing them, he ruthlessly slaughtered those wounded souls who gazed upon him with reverence.
"What are you doing?!" Grott demanded angrily.
"I am truly liberating them; for these injured souls, to merely survive is a far greater cruelty than release," Heavy Hammer proclaimed, distributing all the weapons he could find to the others.
These weapons consisted of makeshift tools from the dungeons—implements of torture, tables, and chairs.
"Enough! Come back with me," Grott implored, extending his hand.
"I will not return; I must execute every single person here. I seek Maya," Heavy Hammer declared as he strode toward the corridor, ready to ascend to the higher levels of the building.
Next, he intended to eliminate all who could be found within the arena.
"Come with me!" Grott raised his hand, aiming at Heavy Hammer.
"Go ahead and kill me," Heavy Hammer continued his advance. "Even if you wish to slay me, I must fulfill my duty—for the glory of the Champion of Valor!"
"Damn the Champion of Valor!" Grott turned and aimed his shoulder cannon at the statue.
A beam shot forth from the cannon, piercing through walls and obstacles, blasting a massive hole where the statue of the Champion of Valor stood.
At that moment, all the blood flowing toward the statue within the arena ceased to move.
Unaware that the statue had slipped from his grasp, Heavy Hammer glanced back at Grott before pressing onward.
Grott, nearly driven to madness by rage, no longer attempted to intervene and turned to depart in the opposite direction.
Upon reaching the center of the arena, he summoned a transport drone, leaping aboard to make his escape.
Moments later, Grott returned to the arena, utilizing his shoulder cannon to blast the structure surrounding the arena, then summoning the drone once more to escape.
This time, he truly departed, never to return to the arena.
While riding the transport drone back toward the corridor, Grott suddenly noticed that the ground forces had sealed off all entrances and exits to District One, where Gray and Klein were commanding troops to enforce the blockade.
Soldiers clad in powered armor entered nearby buildings, dragging out occupants and clubbing down those who resisted.
"This is bad…" Grott's anger diminished slightly upon seeing his side's forces, and he instantly realized the gravity of his actions.
…
A full Terra day later.
David arrived at the position occupied by the First Army. Unlike last time, this time he brought not only a powerful brain cat but also a hundred fully equipped soldiers clad in powered armor.
Upon reaching the position and locating Qin Mo, he found Qin Mo crouched on the ground, assembling a new device.
The device resembled a signal tower, its precise function unclear; however, David observed soldiers transporting their families to the tower before vanishing entirely.
"This is a more stable teleportation device—more energy-efficient, more effective," Qin Mo boasted.
David, unable to comprehend the advantages of this apparatus and not having come for teleportation technology, bluntly stated his purpose: "Why has your team sealed off District One?"
Indeed, Qin Mo had blocked District One.
Just two days prior,
Klein's 47th regiment not only sealed off District One but also cleared every building within it, preventing anyone from entering or leaving—be they gang members, nobles, or wealthy individuals seeking leisure.
"Grott, come here," Qin Mo called, not responding immediately but beckoning from a short distance away.
Grott approached and knelt before Qin Mo, removing his helmet.
Upon seeing Grott, David felt a surge of anger, having heard reports of a man named Grott wreaking havoc in the arena, even demolishing part of the structure before his departure.
"His sister was sold, and his brother is a gladiator in the arena," Qin Mo informed David. "It's not just him; I've received reports that some soldiers can't locate their families, while others, fortunate enough to find theirs, discovered they were not visiting for pleasure but rather for exploitation."
Kneeling, Grott recognized that Qin Mo was not looking for a quarrel; his words rang with truth.
After returning yesterday, he had initially thought Klein and Gray were coming for him, only to learn that some soldiers had found their families in District One, prompting the 47th regiment to enforce a blockade for searches.
"I'm not very clear about the situation…" David admitted.
"Of course, you're not clear," Qin Mo retorted. "When my soldiers' families lie on damp, dark floors, wrapped in tattered rags, enduring torment while murmuring prayers for the Emperor's protection, you weren't there to witness it, were you?"
David glared at Qin Mo, displeased.
The powerful brain cat nestled in his arms sensed his emotions and turned its eyes toward Qin Mo.
Qin Mo met the gaze of the brain cat and felt a chill, sensing malice and cruelty emanating from its eyes…
It seemed those slitted pupils concealed myriad plots and insidious schemes.
Brain cats establish a psychic bond with their owners, reflecting their masters' personalities.
For instance, brain cats raised by the Dark Spirit Clan tend to be as ruthless and cruel as their masters.
Qin Mo believed David, standing before him, was not as kind and upright as he appeared, and recalling the reports of corruption infesting the Nest City…
He concluded that while David was undoubtedly a believer, his faith was not necessarily in the Emperor but rather in treachery.
"I understand your feelings," David finally said. "I apologize for this negligence on the upper level of Nest City; we are willing to take responsibility. You may do as you wish in District One; I will publicly declare it as retribution against those who have betrayed the Emperor."
"Thank you," Qin Mo refrained from exposing David's deceit immediately, deciding to seek an opportunity to investigate further.
"It is the least I can do," David replied, turning to leave.
After David's departure, Grott breathed a sigh of relief, having feared that Qin Mo might turn him over to placate David's wrath.
"You must remove the Guardian's powered armor and return to the Nest City. A teacher is waiting to instruct you in the maintenance of logistical machinery," Qin Mo suddenly said.
"Commander… please don't…" Grott quickly pleaded.
"Do not address me as Commander; you are now a proud citizen of New Carto, not my soldier."
"…" Grott ceased to argue, rising to remove his powered armor. He harbored no resentment, knowing that his actions from the previous night warranted execution. Being sent back to the Nest City for machinery maintenance felt like mercy.
Unbeknownst to Grott, Qin Mo did not blame him for the destruction of the arena; he merely feared that if Grott continued fighting, he would likely succumb to corruption.
However, Qin Mo did not wish to execute Grott outright and sought an excuse to have the main control intelligence monitor him.
In Qin Mo's mind, Grott would henceforth live as a civilian, engaging solely in maintenance work until the end of his days.
"It is my honor to serve you," Grott performed the Eagle salute, turning to depart.
A soldier swiftly approached, grasping Grott's shoulder and activating the protective device.
As they were enveloped in a barrier, both were teleported to the new Carto within the Nest City.