Chapter 252 The enemy in the shadows. {3} Quality vs Quantity

Words : 1135 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Instead, his officers stood taller, their eyes burning with the same defiance that Kael himself carried. Satisfied with this, Sharon's dad gave a curt nod. Behind him, a team of soldiers approached, carrying his power armor, a massive, custom-built exosuit, enhanced with heavy shielding and built for one purpose... war. Next came his family's shield, emblazoned with his house emblem. And finally, his patriarch's sword, a weapon passed down for generations, carrying the weight of his lineage. Vortigan stood tall, fully prepared for the battle of his life. "Sir! The enemy fleet is breaking into orbit! What are your orders?!" One of the officers shouted, his voice sharp and urgent, but not shaken. There was no fear, only discipline. Vortigan's eyes flickered to the holographic display, where enemy ships loomed like a steel storm in the dark sky. He exhaled slowly with a controlled breath, then moved with purpose. "Activate the weapon platforms and bring the planetary defenses online. I want them torn apart before they even touch the ground!" His voice rang through the command center like a hammer striking iron. As he spoke, he stepped into his power armor, the abyss-black plating gleaming under the cold artificial lights. Silver energy pulsed along its frame, the emblem of Nexum Dynamics, a white octopus etched proudly on his chest. Over the armor draped a regal cape, bearing the sigil of his house, a white wildcat with three tails, the mark of his bloodline. "Understood, sir!" The room erupted. Officers relayed commands, voices overlapping in a storm of urgency. Screens flickered with battle data as sirens wailed. Deep beneath the planet's surface, the ground shuddered. Massive defensive platforms surged upward, emerging from hidden vaults. Towering cannons locked onto their targets, while swarms of interceptors rocketed into the sky. The moment the enemy ships entered range, chaos ignited. Blazing energy bolts and high-velocity projectiles tore through the void, ripping through frigates and transports alike. Some ships buckled instantly with their hulls crumpling under the relentless assault. Others veered off course, spiraling into destruction. The sky became a battlefield of fire and ruin. Inside the enemy flagship, far above the chaos, Percival watched with cold amusement. He stood still as the ship trembled under light enemy fire, a sharp contrast to the frantic movements of the officers around him. One of them approached, bowing slightly before speaking. "Sir, the traitors have begun firing on our fleet. We're losing a significant number of ships. What are your orders?" Read latest chapters at empire Percival barely glanced at him. A slow, deliberate smirk tugged at his lips. "No need for concern. These losses are within acceptable margins. We anticipated Vortigan's treachery. His refusal to share his most advanced weaponry was just another crime to add to his name. But no matter..." He rolled his shoulders while stretching his arms. The polished plates of his armor glowed with a faint blue energy, humming with barely contained power. "I suppose I should make an appearance, raise morale." He turned sharply, making his way toward the hangar bay. The officer hesitated, then spoke again. "Sir, should I summon the Abyss team?" Percival chuckled. "Of course. Have them meet me in the launch bay. Those platforms won't destroy themselves." The last thing he saw before the elevator doors shut was the flickering holographic display, showing the battle raging below. A quiet sigh escaped him, but in his mind, satisfaction burned like a steady flame. "Mmm? HAHAHA! What was that!? An ant trying to stop me... ME!? Seriously!? At least send the old man out here instead of his mutt! Don't you think so too... VICTOR? Or should I say... Mercenary King!" His voice carried across the battlefield, defying distance, vibrating in the chests of those who heard it. The sheer presence of a Tier 7 powerhouse was enough to make reality itself tremble. Then, from the wreckage of the destroyed cannon, movement. A lone figure emerged, rolling his shoulders, resetting a dislocated arm with a sickening crack. He exhaled sharply, then stood tall. A long, dark cloak billowed around him, the emblem on his back unmistakable, a pair of metallic wings with five stars. The mark of a man who had fought his way to the top with nothing but blood and steel. Victor, the Mercenary King, smiled. "Hah. I'm glad someone that high up in the megacorps actually knows my name." His voice was rough, but there was amusement in it, as if he had been waiting for this moment. Percival scoffed while crossing his arms. "Tsk, if flattery makes a dog like you wag its tail, why don't you just join me? I can praise you every day if that's what it takes to keep you happy." He extended his hand, mockingly, as if offering a deal. Victor chuckled. "Hah. No thanks." His eyes glinted dangerously, his smirk widening. "And honestly, do you really think you have the time to chat with me? Because last I checked... your fleet was getting torn apart." He raised a finger and pointed toward the sky. Percival turned sharply, his eyes narrowed as he saw what Victor meant. His fleet. His elite warriors. His Tier 5s. They were dying. On another weapon platform, one of his strongest warriors, a Tier 5 powerhouse, was being overwhelmed. Not by equals. Not by fellow Tier 5s. But by mercenaries. Tier 4s. Tier 3s. One after another, they struck, moving with deadly precision. The elite warrior lashed out, tearing through some, but they kept coming, swarming like wolves taking down a bear. Percival's expression darkened. His smile was gone. His amusement vanished. "...What the hell is going on?" Without another word, he vanished, moving instantly toward the battlefield, Victor watched him go, rolling his neck before tightening the grip on his weapons. "Oh? Getting serious now?" He smirked while stepping forward. "Good. I was starting to get bored." {What the hell do they think they are doing?} Percival's blood boiled. His Elites... his Tier 5 warriors, were being torn apart by Tier 4 mercenaries. It was unthinkable. Disgraceful. His fists clenched so tightly that his gauntlets groaned under the pressure. His gaze locked onto one of his warriors, a seasoned Tier 5, stumbling back as a Tier 4 mercenary severed his arm with a brutal strike. Blood sprayed across the platform while the mercenary smirked. Something in Percival snapped. In an instant, he dropped from the sky like a meteor, crashing onto the weapon platform with such force that the entire structure detonated beneath him. A thunderous shockwave erupted outward, sending soldiers and debris flying in every direction. Metal beams groaned and snapped like twigs. Smoke and fire swallowed the battlefield in an instant.

Chapter 252 The enemy in the shadows. {3} Quality vs Quantity

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