Shadows of Betrayal

The chilling wind of the night carried whispers of something sinister as Su Chen stood atop the highest tower in the Huaxia military base. His piercing gaze scanned the horizon, where the remnants of the cult still lurked in the shadows. The eradication had begun, but something felt off. Despite their overwhelming strength, traces of the cultists remained, evading destruction.

Beside him, Wang Jun clenched his fists. "They're slippery, retreating like roaches. We've eliminated thousands, yet remnants keep surfacing."

"It's not just remnants." Su Chen's voice was sharp, his mind analyzing the movements. "Some are defectors."

Luo Qian's eyes widened. "You mean... some of our own have sided with them?"

Su Chen turned, his eyes dark with certainty. "Some people fear the gods more than they trust their own kind. Others crave power and think the gods will reward them for their loyalty. We need to root them out."

A heavy silence settled over the room. The idea of betrayal within their ranks was a bitter pill to swallow. Su Chen had known this moment would come, but he hadn't expected it so soon.

The Battle Within

The next morning, Su Chen gathered his most trusted allies. His voice carried a quiet intensity as he spoke. "We will conduct a purge. There will be no tolerance for traitors. I need each of you to lead a division to flush them out."

"And if they resist?" Bai Zhen asked, his expression unreadable.

Su Chen's gaze was cold. "Kill them."

Nods of agreement followed. There was no room for mercy.

By nightfall, the purge began. Cries of desperation echoed through the barracks as infiltrators were dragged out. Some begged for forgiveness, claiming they had been forced. Others cursed Su Chen, calling him a tyrant. None were spared. Their loyalty had wavered, and in this war, hesitation was death.

As Su Chen stood among the fallen, his heart remained steady. He had long abandoned the naive ideals of his past life. There was no saving those who had already sold their souls.

A Deadly Revelation

Just as Su Chen was about to return, a sudden burst of divine energy exploded from the outskirts of the base. Instantly, alarms blared, and soldiers rushed into formation.

A shadowy figure stepped forward, a faint glow of divinity surrounding him. His smirk sent a chill down the spines of those present.

"So this is the great Su Chen," the man mused. "I must admit, you've done well. But do you truly believe you can stand against the gods?"

Su Chen's eyes narrowed. "You're no god. Who are you?"

The man chuckled. "A messenger. The gods have taken an interest in you, Su Chen. They wanted to see if you were worthy."

A pulse of divine energy surged toward Su Chen, but with a flick of his wrist, he shattered it with ease. The messenger's smirk faltered for a brief moment before he laughed again.

"Interesting. Then let's see how long you last. The gods are watching. And soon... they will arrive."

Before Su Chen could react, the man vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a single message carved into the ground:

"Fifteen days. Prepare to kneel."

Su Chen clenched his fists. The time for preparation had just run out. The war was about to begin.