Chapter 653: The False God’s Flesh

The plains were thick with the acrid scent of scorched earth, remnants of recent infernos. Dry, hot winds swept in from the east, stirring up dust that slapped against the tank treads’ armored skirts. Twelve armored vehicles rolled forward in a tight, vigilant formation, crushing the blackened ground of the Holy Spirit Plain beneath their weight as the sun dipped low on the horizon.

Inside the command tank, company commander Siniel peered through his periscope, scanning the distant landscape.

This was a reconnaissance unit—a heavily armed, highly resilient scouting force. It consisted of nine Warhammer main battle tanks and three Steel Envoy vehicles, manned by dozens of seasoned, loyal, and courageous soldiers. Under normal circumstances, such a unit could rout enemy forces ten or even dozens of times its size, shatter a fortress guarded by mid-tier or lower-tier supernaturals. For a reconnaissance team, it was almost overpowered. Yet here, in this scorched war zone, Siniel knew he had to remain cautious.

Because the plains were crawling with wandering Crystal Cluster Giants—and he and his unit had just entered an unpurified zone.

Around Sorinfort, the Crystal Cluster Giants’ rampage was at its worst. The land and towns bore deep scars. Along the way, Siniel saw countless collapsed walls and abandoned farms. The opulent mansions once built by the wealthy lay in ruins, and the once-fertile fields were trampled into desolation. When still sane, the giants had maintained some semblance of order, but since descending into madness, they destroyed everything along their path. After their passage, nothing remained intact.

The rumble of the tank engines vibrated beneath Siniel’s body. The heavy, sturdy steel machines gave him a sense of security. Just months ago, he had been a novice mechanic, barely acquainted with magi-tech devices. After a brief period of assault training, he was sent to the northern front. The pressure of battle and real combat experience had honed his skills, propelling him to company commander. Among this newly formed, hastily trained armored unit, many officers had risen quickly through the ranks like him.

Siniel lowered the periscope and handed it to the observer, then moved to the onboard communications console. “Maintain vigilance. We’re approaching the target.”

For lower-level command nodes and standard tanks, the onboard comms were simplified maginet terminals—stripped of projection crystals to cut costs, capable only of transmitting voice signals within a limited range. Essentially, they were the most basic form of magical communication. Yet even this rudimentary device was invaluable on the battlefield.

Responses came from all vehicles. The twelve-tank reconnaissance unit slowed its pace slightly. The three Steel Envoys adjusted their positions forward to ensure the emergency shield amplifiers could cover the entire convoy. Siniel pushed open the armored hatch above and poked his head out, scanning the plains with his own eyes.

It was a risky move, but Siniel’s experience told him it was safe enough. The Warhammer-I’s primary defense was its shield system—stronger than steel. The tank’s armor was merely a backup, offering limited protection if the shield failed. When visual observation was necessary, sticking one’s head out was a viable option. If an attack could instantly pierce the shield, hiding behind armor wouldn’t help much anyway.

Ahead, a faint white glow shimmered with a sacred aura, growing clearer by the moment. Even without instruments, Siniel could see the strange halos it cast in the air. The light radiated a potent malice, a hint of madness so intense it made ordinary men shudder.

Siniel had no idea what he was facing. He was just following orders. But the incredible power emanating from that glow was enough to raise anyone’s guard. It was a stark reminder that he was confronting one of the most dangerous “secrets” of the supernatural realm.

Fortunately, even ordinary soldiers had means to counter psychic threats in this era.

He withdrew his head and steadied his nerves. Turning, he ordered, “Activate the mental defense system!”

“Yes, all vehicles activate mental defense!”

A faint hum of magical energy filled the tanks. Around every seat, on the periscope and observation windows, previously invisible runes flickered to life. These twisting, alien symbols belonged to no known human script. The tank’s systems couldn’t control them; the power core could only energize the runes, causing them to glow. Yet this mere illumination had astonishing effects.

As pale blue mystical patterns spread inside the tanks, Siniel felt his anxiety melt away. A gentle sound like ocean waves whispered in his mind, bringing clarity, vigor, and uplift. His earlier restlessness and vague fear vanished. In fact, he even felt a faint joy.

This was the mental defense system, a new device recently installed by magi-tech engineers. Siniel didn’t fully understand its workings but had heard it was linked to a “technical cooperation project” back at headquarters. Its purpose was to shield soldiers’ minds from supernatural psychic attacks—and it worked.

However, the system had limits. Prolonged use caused the calming energy to turn into a form of mental pollution. Users inevitably slipped into states of euphoria and excitement, sometimes acting irrationally as if “called by the sea.” Technicians were still working to mitigate these side effects, but for now, the problem remained.

“Monitor the defense system’s timer,” Siniel reminded his men, then ordered, “Advance toward the light.”

Protected by the mental defense system, the reconnaissance unit pressed forward. The hazy glow grew brighter, and its source began to take shape.

Crossing a collapsed wall, Siniel finally saw it.

A creature both holy and terrifying, pure yet profane.

A giant stag bathed in white radiance, an artificial god whose flesh was in constant decay and regeneration.

“Ancestor…” a soldier gasped, staring through the front observation window at the colossal stag standing silently amid the ruins, his voice trembling. “What is that?”

“Without a doubt, a monster,” Siniel replied, equally stunned but composed. “The rest of the teams, four vehicles per group, spread out and approach cautiously.”

The convoy split as planned: three Warhammer-Is and one Steel Envoy per group, cautiously closing in on the giant stag. The creature seemed oblivious, unmoving as these uninvited guests neared.

But Siniel remembered his orders. When the convoy was still hundreds of meters from the stag’s glowing aura, he commanded a full stop.

The stag remained motionless, like a soulless husk gazing into the distance. Its supernatural radiance enveloped its body, starkly contrasting with the grotesque scars and deformities marring its flesh. It was like a surreal painting standing between heaven and earth—bizarre yet hauntingly beautiful in its contradictions.

“We can’t get any closer. This thing is too strange, something’s wrong,” Siniel frowned. “Activate the external recording crystals. Capture footage. All groups, fall back…”

The engines roared as the tanks’ treads turned, slowly retreating. Siniel watched the stag warily—and then, suddenly, its once-still eyes shifted slightly.

Perhaps it was waking from some dormant state, or maybe the tanks had finally drawn its attention. It moved.

With the engine of one tank revving sharply, the stag lowered its head. Its crystal-like eyes fixed on the slowly retreating vehicles, madness simmering beneath a calm surface.

Siniel reacted instantly, slamming the comm button and shouting, “Accelerate! Fall back—NOW!”

The engines surged from a low rumble to a deafening roar. The tanks spun their turrets and surged forward. At that moment, the stag’s eyes flashed blood red. A wild roar erupted—a chaotic blend of countless screams and whispers—and between its gleaming antlers, a blinding orb of light formed.

The orb crackled with lightning, coalescing into a spear of pure energy that shot straight at one of the tank squads.

The Steel Envoy immediately activated its onboard shield amplifier. A translucent energy barrier enveloped the squad just in time. The energy spear struck, and with a piercing screech, the shield and spear simultaneously shattered. The magi-crystal fixed atop the Envoy exploded into fragments—

Then a second energy spear formed and struck before anyone could react. It swept across the already damaged Envoy, triggering a series of deafening explosions that reduced it to ash in an instant.

All tanks spun their turrets, accelerated, and raced away. The stag unleashed a second frenzied roar, a maddening howl that threatened to shatter minds. It charged after the retreating reconnaissance unit.

In that moment, another tank suddenly lagged behind. Its shield flickered violently, as if under invisible magical assault. After a brief struggle, the shield failed completely. From the steel seams burst forth blooming flowers and lush green vines, rapidly engulfing the entire vehicle in a vibrant, living tomb—a terrifying sight.

“Boom!” “Boom! Boom!!”

Explosions thundered continuously as the tanks turned their turrets and fired on the monstrous stag at close range. Given its massive size, nearly every shell hit its mark.

The sacred glow around the stag surged violently. Half the shells detonated prematurely, triggered by the radiant energy. The rest struck the stag’s twisted, scarred flesh, sending sprays of blood and gore into the air. Its battered body seemed on the verge of shattering under the bombardment.

Yet the creature only staggered briefly before letting out a guttural roar and pressing the attack once more.

The bombardment left only tiny scratches on its seemingly fragile, shattered body—and those wounds healed themselves in an instant!

“We’ve probably enraged it completely…” a soldier shouted, “It looks incredibly, incredibly angry!!”

“It never intended to get along with us peacefully, even when it wasn’t angry—but you’re right, we’ve pushed it too far!” Xeniel responded loudly. “Break formation, prepare to throw the mines—”

At that moment, the terrifying giant stag suddenly let out a mournful cry unlike before, then abruptly stopped in its tracks without warning. It roared, emitting a series of garbled, dreadful sounds. Its body underwent horrifying transformations: the torn, rolling flesh fused and separated repeatedly; the radiant glow around it fluctuated between intense and dim; its crystal-clear eyes shifted from blood-red to dazzlingly bright—

It seemed to be in an extremely unstable state, momentarily frozen in place.

Xeniel didn’t understand what was happening, but he knew one thing—there was a chance.

The entire reconnaissance team quickly adjusted their course and sped away toward the distance.

…

In Saint Suniel, Gawain was interrupted mid-meeting by an urgent communication. He hurried to his study and saw Mariland’s stern face appear on the holographic display.

“My lord, it has appeared,” the former General of the Rockhold Fortress and now commander of the Iron Throne said gravely. “A creature that looks like a stag—but as massive as a fortress.”

(End of chapter)