Blood erupted as Walter collapsed, powerless.
"Hehehe, that was a close one!"
"Right before the explosion, I pulled out your core."
"To think you would try to kill the Apostle of God with divine power… how naive!"
Walter stared at Xilin's cold sweat, almost believing her act.
"Just a little… sorry, Joyce…"
"Sorry, Einstein… sorry, Tesla…"
Xilin gripped the Lawgiver Core in her hand, striking a victorious pose.
"You will die here on this cold moon as a failure, alone."
"If only I can get this core… I can bring back my brother…"
Walter's body disintegrated without his core, yet he still tried to reach out to stop Xilin.
"No… don't… let go!"
Finally, he vanished.
"What a stubborn opponent. But now… it's over."
Xilin absorbed the First Lawgiver Core into her own body.
"Hahaha… with the First Lawgiver's core and power, I can… I can finally…"
"What was I supposed to do… something important?"
"That's right… revenge. To fill the world with Corruption. It's time to bring divine punishment to those hypocrites!"
The knowledge of the First Lawgiver manifested alongside her immense power. Terrifying weapons constructed themselves behind Xilin.
As God's Apostle, she bore the chains of divinity. Every gift of fate had a hidden price.
God did not care about the thoughts of mere mortals. The world reset again and again, all to achieve the ultimate goal – to engulf the world in Corruption.
Yuebo, forcibly removed from the battlefield, watched silently as the virtual barrier isolating the Stigmata Space grew stronger.
Previously, when he nearly disappeared, he had seen Xilin almost swallowed by the pseudo black hole. Using all his strength, even risking his own existence, he destroyed the shattered Eden Star held by Walter.
Fortune favored Yuebo. He pierced the shattered Eden Core with a crystallized spear, witnessing Xilin being taken from the battlefield.
Upon waking again, Yuebo sensed the Corruption Energy thickening around him. Since he still existed, Xilin must still be alive.
"Ugh… what is going on? The virtual barrier just became so strong all of a sudden! How can I get through? I just want to see Xilin already."
God's voice echoed in his mind: "Six-core Lawgiver, boy. Where do you think you're going? Any unauthorized interlopers will be brought to justice!"
February 12, 2000 – 12:05 PM
Earth, Near the Babylon Tower
Entropy forces had retreated, leaving Patrick behind to monitor the area.
"Another calm day… huh!?"
A massive battleship broke through the clouds, looming over Babylon Tower. From it poured endless Corruption Beasts, immediately surrounding the tower.
The Valkyrie squad stationed within was trapped. Alarms blared, and evacuation was ordered. But the key hangar exits were blocked, leaving no way for the armored vehicles to escape.
Xilin, perched on the battleship's railing, gave orders to Bella beside her.
"Bella, capture the people below alive. They will still be of use."
As long as civilization teetered on the edge of annihilation, the continuous surge of Corruption Energy could grow stronger, fueled by human fear.
"When my power is strong enough, the world will be completely destroyed in one strike!"
"Yes, Sister."
Patrick, stationed outside, saw the Valkyries unable to escape. He loaded his armored cannon.
"With this many Corruption Beasts… Salome, Shabu, you two really cannot function without me."
"Then let this traitor give it one last push!"
Overwhelming firepower drew the Corruption Beasts' attention, allowing the tidal wave of monsters to surge freely.
Patrick fired the fully charged armored cannon, clearing the hangar exit of the blocking beasts.
Salome and Shabu, realizing the signal, immediately led the Valkyries in evacuation. They knew who had aided them.
"Yes, just like that. Hurry now. Time to play the final card, one we couldn't use last time."
They assembled the exoskeleton armors into one unit, standing resolute on the snowfield against the raging tide. Fear of death would crush most, but Patrick imposed mental discipline to remain steadfast for his team.
The Snow Wolf Squad swore the "Wolfblood Oath," pledging to warn humanity of Corruption's devastation.
As solitary wolves, fearless and vigilant, they stared into the abyss, hunting the gods themselves.
Preparation phase – Charging phase – Overload mode – Meltdown sequence activated!
"Witness our resolve! Reduce you to dust, filth!"
The molten self-immolator vaporized the tidal wave of Corruption Beasts on the snowfield.
Yet the continuous surge of beasts persisted.
"That's enough. Salome, Shabu, they must escape."
Exhausted, Patrick withdrew his bloodied, mangled arms from the molten exoskeleton cannon, seeing Xilin descend before him.
"Human, you did well. But it's meaningless. I will spare your life so you can watch the world crumble under Corruption."
"Hehehe… what a pitiful monster."
"Don't worry. Your companions cannot escape either."
With a snap, Xilin trapped Patrick in the Infinite Corridor – a special space built with the Lightning Lawgiver's power. Unless someone is strong enough, escape is impossible.
A spatial shift brought Patrick beside Bella.
"Sister, sorry. One person got away."
Bella stood among the fallen Valkyrie squad, with Salome caught by the neck and Shabu missing.
Xilin absorbed the dying Valkyries into the Infinite Corridor.
"It's fine, Bella. We have more important work ahead."
"Let's bring Corruption to this world!"
Across the globe, three pseudo Lawgivers wreaked havoc, destroying buildings and inciting panic. Fiery hurricanes swept the seas while death silently touched the masses.
The apocalyptic scene produced enormous Corruption Energy, which Xilin absorbed to strengthen herself.
Far away, Shabu, fleeing the Corruption Beasts, finally saw reinforcements.
The strongest A-class Valkyrie of Destiny, Cheng Lixue, disciple of the legendary Red Kite Sage, appeared. Her gray-blue hair flowed in the wind as she held the three-foot sword, Ruoshui.
"Bishop has sent me to support you and provide information on the Second Lawgiver."