Chapter 323: Training and Audits
Chief Lyra Frost stood at the base of the obsidian stairs, watching the five
Tier 3 Anomalies grovel in the dirt.
A wave of desperate "Survival Logic" radiated from their forms. Their total
surrender of dignity was so absolute it made her feel a sense of jarring, human
unreality.
"Supreme Sovereign! We volunteer for submission!" Umbra rasped, his voice
vibrating with a frantic cadence. "We can perform any directive for the Empire!
Liquidation of humans, liquidation of our own kind, serving as expendable
vanguard units—if you conceptualize it, we will execute it!"
The Grinning Mask added his own shriek of compliance. "Affirmative! The Anomaly
species was birthed for the singular purpose of processing life! If you provide
the mandate, we shall dismantle every non-compliant entity in this coordinate!"
The Crimson-Dress Child crawled with a disturbing, disjointed gait to the very
bottom step of the dais. She tilted her head back, her dark voids fixed on Kaito
with a pathological yearning. "My Lord, I can serve as your domestic thrall. I
am remarkably submissive. I will adhere to any scripted behavior you require.
Truly."
The Fog of a Thousand Faces and the Shrouded One emitted a series of incoherent
gurgles and vibrations, each attempting to out-grovel the other. Their stance
was absolute: as long as their cores persisted, any condition was acceptable.
Kaito sat upon his throne, his soulfire performing a calm audit of the
performers below.
To be honest, he felt zero biological repulsion toward the Anomalies. In the
Evernight Empire, the Undead were themselves the byproducts of death. These
"Anomalies" were fundamentally manifestations of warped Planar Rules.
In a structural sense, they were kindred spirits.
"You wish for vassalage?" Kaito asked, his voice a flat drone.
"YES! YES!"
The five horrors responded in a perfect, synchronized chorus, terrified of a
delayed response.
"Are you aware of the logistical implications of Imperial Submission?" Kaito's
soulfire pulsed once.
"It implies the total adoption of Evernight Protocols." "It implies the
cessation of un-ordered liquidation." "It implies total administrative oversight
by the State Army." "It implies that your persistence or termination is now an
Imperial variable."
Kaito paused, leaning forward. "Can your systems tolerate these restrictions?"
The five Anomalies went silent for three seconds. They exchanged "Sensory
Pings," thinking: That's it? That's the only tax?
Umbra was the first to vocalize. "My Lord, we can comply." "As long as our
frames remain active, we can adhere to any rule-set. Our species is literally
defined by our adherence to 'Rules.' Previously, the Anomaly System governed us;
now, your Empire will govern us. The logic remains the same."
Kaito's soulfire flickered. He recalled certain Goblins back home who had failed
their citizenship trials for five decades straight. Goblins eventually expired
from old age, but these things... they were statistically unkillable.
Maintaining a legion of permanent students would be a drain on the Academy's
resources, Kaito mused.
"Adequate." "Since you petition for submission, the Empire shall grant a single
opportunity for integration."
Kaito raised a hand, pointing toward the State Army phalanx.
"Centurion 886."
"Present, my Sovereign!" The Vampire officer glided forward, performing a deep
bow at the base of the stairs.
"Take custody of these five units. They are to undergo a three-month intensive
cycle in the Re-education Demonstration Zone."
"Curriculum: Imperial Law, Evernight Cultural Theory, Etiquette for Vassal
Races, and Foundational Logic for Submissive Units."
"Upon completion of the quarter, an Audit shall be conducted."
"Those who achieve a passing grade are granted formal residency status."
"Those who fail..." Kaito paused, his tone turning clinical. "...shall be
transferred to the Arcane Legion as 'Research Materials'."
"If the experiment results in their biological termination, process the remains
for recruitment as New Units."
"Am I understood?"
Centurion 886 performed a final, sharp bow. "As commanded, my Lord. I shall
transmit the intake forms to General Greed immediately."
The five Anomalies felt their frames turn cold.
Re-education? Audits? Research Materials?!
The conditions were statistically terrifying. But they offered zero resistance.
They knew this was the most favorable extraction route available. At least their
cores remained functional.
"WE THANK THE SOVEREIGN FOR HIS MIRACLE!" the five roared in unison. "WE SHALL
MASTER THE CURRICULUM!"
Kaito waved a dismissive hand. "Extract them."
886 snapped his fingers. A squad of Vampires moved from the ranks, seizing the
five Tier 3s and leading them away. The process was cold, professional, and
devoid of drama.
Lyra Frost watched the scene, her mind a storm of conflicting data. She never
imagined a God of the Dead would grant "Pests" a chance at evolution through
education and testing.
It violates every archetype of the 'Monster King', she thought.
"You are experiencing surprise?"
Kaito's voice snapped her focus back. Lyra jolted, shaking her head. "No... my
Lord. I am merely... processing the variables."
"Logic check: you expected a total purge?"
Lyra went silent. It was exactly what she had projected.
Kaito rose from the throne, stepping down the obsidian stairs. "The Evernight
logic is simple."
"Those who submit and maintain Order are granted a path. Those who reject Order
and disrupt the parameters are liquidated."
"It is an absolute law, applicable to every biological and spiritual unit in the
Multiverse."
He paused, stopping directly in front of Lyra.
"Including your species."
Lyra's frame shivered. She understood. This Sovereign didn't act out of "Mercy."
He acted out of Order. Compliance resulted in survival; deviance resulted in the
Void.
"I understand, my Sovereign," Lyra said, performing a deep kowtow. "The Human
Federation will maintain total compliance with Evernight Law."
Kaito nodded. "Excellent."
"Now, lead me to your Council. There are structural details to finalize."
Lyra was about to respond when Kaito's soulfire pulsed with a sudden, violent
intensity. He tilted his skull, looking toward the horizon.
"Mmh..." Kaito murmured. "If my sensors are accurate... your species is
currently experiencing a localized crisis."
Lyra froze. "My Lord? Clarify."
"Your Federal Core—the 'Headquarters'—is currently undergoing a large-scale
breach by the Scourge."
"Quantity: approximately... thirty thousand units?"
Lyra's complexion turned a ghostly white. "What?! Thirty thousand Anomalies?!"
"Impossible! Vigil is holding the line—"
Kaito didn't bother with the argument. He raised his hand and closed his eyes.
In the next micro-second, the Soul Link ignited. Kaito's consciousness expanded,
anchoring to the seven hundred elite units on the field.
"ALL LEGIONS: HEAR THE SOVEREIGN!"
Kaito's voice resonated in the core of every soldier.
"COMMENCE TOTAL SECTOR CLEARANCE. LIQUIDATE ALL RIOTING UNITS IN THIS
COORDINATE."
"ISSUE ONE WARNING. NON-COMPLIANCE RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE TERMINATION."
"TREAT ALL VARIABLES—HUMAN OR ANOMALY—AS EQUAL. THE ORDER OF THE EVERNIGHT IS
SUPREME."
"AM I CLEAR?!"
"AS COMMANDED!"
Seven hundred voices roared back in a singular mental blast.
In the next second, the host moved.
They didn't hesitate. They didn't calculate. For the inhabitants of this Plane,
this was a terminal apocalypse. For the Evernight Empire, it wasn't even
"Entertainment."
It was a sanitation protocol. Like a homeowner clearing a nest of roaches.
Simple. Efficient. Absolute.
☆☆☆
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