Boom——!
The entire wall collapsed and shattered, forming massive cracks.
"Captain Tennyson! Damn it, what are these guys?!"
Bulat, in his transparent state using [Incursio], was sweating coldly. From the intricate patterns on the black powered armor, he realized these monsters were merely regular soldiers, and there were over a dozen more approaching.
"Teigu: Incursio—[Demon Armor], huh? Heh, well, this is too easy. Tennyson, this is a requested experiment subject for Dr. Stylish. I'll leave it to you. Don't forget to retrieve the target."
With arms crossed and the short red-and-white cape billowing on his left shoulder, Alex, through his helmet's internal communication system, gave a direct order.
"Understood!"
The black-armored Astartes soldier, Uren, who had just brutally beaten Leone, replied as he dragged the unconscious figure of Bulat, who was leaking blood from his head.
Despite the invisibility granted by [Specter], Uren's enhanced targeting system had locked on Bulat's every move through infrared heat signatures.
"They can see me?!" Bulat halted in place, shocked and uncertain, seeing the black-armored giant's gaze still locked on him.
"What are you…"
Before he could finish, boom!
The distance between them vanished in a blink as Uren, the Astartes soldier, appeared behind Bulat, moving like lightning. His massive metal hand grasped Bulat's head.
Crack, crack—
Under the immense pressure, the steel-gray metal mask on Bulat's face shattered, revealing his true face underneath.
"Former Imperial Captain Bulat, Night Raid assassin, confirmed traitor to the Empire. Eliminate without mercy!" With Bulat's head firmly in his grasp, Uren announced in a deep voice.
At 185 cm, Bulat was a tall and imposing figure by any standards, but in front of the massive 2.5-meter-tall Astartes warrior, he seemed like a child, weak and small.
Bulat could only let out agonized screams as the relentless pressure on his head continued to mount.
"Bulat, retreat! Lubbock has found the exit... Bulat!"
Having just secured the heavily injured Leone, Tennyson's second-in-command burst out from the ruins, only to witness Bulat bleeding profusely in Uren's crushing grasp, looking like a dead man. His desperate roar filled the air.
"You're mine."
Alex's towering figure suddenly appeared behind Tennyson. With a surge of violet-red Honkai energy particles, he delivered a devastating downward punch!
Whoosh——!
The thick, heavy fist tore through the air, creating a fierce gust of wind.
"Secret Technique: Limit Burst!!"
In a desperate move, the outer shell of Tennyson's metal mask shattered, revealing his eyes glowing with cross-shaped pupils. Two deep blood marks ran across his face like scars.
Boom——!
In just an instant, Tennyson's right arm exploded into pieces, flesh and blood scattering.
In the next moment, his entire body was hammered into the ground by Alex's iron fist, burying him into the earth!
The impact of Alex's punch sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, cracking it under the immense force. Visible black spiderweb-like cracks spread across the ground as the surrounding area trembled from the blow.
In a matter of seconds, the entire manor shook as if struck by an earthquake!
"Tennyson! Bulat!" Inside the collapsing mansion, rocks tumbled down from the ceiling as Mine cried out, stumbling to her feet and attempting to run out of the ruins.
"Calm down, Mine! We have to leave now! This is the chance Tennyson and Bulat sacrificed themselves for!"
Lubbock's voice was low, his face filled with grief. As much as he wanted to avenge his fallen comrades, staying here would mean certain death.
"But..."
"No buts! We have to go!" Without wasting more time, Lubbock hoisted the unconscious Leone onto his back. Using his wires, he pulled Mine, Sayo, and Ieyasu into the underground sewer system.
Three seconds later—
Boom—crash!
The already unstable noble estate finally gave in under the destructive force, completely collapsing into rubble.
Through the infrared heat detectors in their helmets, the Astartes warriors easily identified the rebels' movements within the underground sewer system, preparing to pursue.
"No need to chase them... Just fire a few rounds for show."
As the dust settled, Alex casually rolled his wrist and walked forward, glancing at Tennyson, who was still trailing slightly behind him. "Have you tagged them?"
"Yes, I have. That woman named Leone now carries a tracking device implanted inside her body," Uren replied, dragging Bulat's body behind him.
"Good. Once we track their base, we'll wipe them out in one go. Let's head back."
With that, Alex turned and led his troops away.
"Four dead, three escaped, and two civilians... Hmm?"
As they marched out of the ruins, Alex noticed a figure standing nearby, shouting orders at his subordinates—a man with a cruel face and a vertical scar running down his left eye.
"Are you the commanding officer here?" Alex's heavy, metallic voice rang out.
"Who...?" The scarred officer turned around, his eyes widening at the sight of the towering black-armored giant looming over him, nearly twice his size.
Glancing at the gold double-headed eagle insignia on the black giant's chest, he gulped and forced himself to stand tall, saluting stiffly. "Yes, sir! I'm the commander of the Imperial Guard, Ogre!"
"Good, Commander Ogre. I'm Alex, of General Selene's Astartes Legion. I want your Imperial Guard to enter the city's underground sewer system and conduct a full-scale search."
"Remember, lock down the entire city, and do not stop until they're captured!" Alex's voice was firm and left no room for argument.
Ogre hesitated for a moment before replying cautiously, "Um... I'm sorry, sir, but to lock down the entire city, we need an official order from the Minister..."
"Is General Selene's command enough for you, Captain?!" Alex snapped, pulling out Selene's command seal as he spoke in a cold, threatening tone.
"I... I understand, sir! I'll issue the orders right away!" Seeing the circle of black-armored giants surrounding him, Ogre's courage melted, and he quickly complied.
...
Meanwhile, back in the Imperial Palace, inside the chambers of Minister Honest—
"Honest, are you useless? The Southern Rebel Army is nothing more than a bunch of ants, yet they've managed to stir up trouble even in the Upper District! What next? Will they reach my duchy or even the Imperial Palace itself?!"