First Light of a New Age

Chapter 185: Slime and Revelations

Third Civilization Zone, Austronesia People's Empire, Imperial Mahalika, Mindanao, New Davao City.

4th Year of the New Age, Tuesday, 2nd Week, 10th Month of the Father

Three minutes after the attack…

The streets of New Davao were torn apart with smoke and dust choking the air, and the sharp stench of burning fuel mixed with the copper scent of blood.

Entire rows of buildings had been flattened into rubble as the once beating heart of Mindanao’s trade city now resembled a battlefield torn straight from hell.

Sirens wailed across the ruined avenues as rescue teams and soldiers move around the carnage.

Omega-141 had arrived barely three minutes after the chaos ended, but the devastation had already reached its peak as fires were raging unchecked, bodies littered the streets, and the cries of the wounded like hell itself had opened its gates.

Inside what was left of the government building which was half-destroyed, bloodied officers shouted over one another, calling out lost squads and civilian casualty reports. Desks had been overturned, maps were covered in dirt, and casualty reports piled up faster than anyone could read them.

Captain Riley was standing near the main table with a calm look as he scanned the disaster reports while General Francisco Dianopra Agraviador was across from him.

When Riley entered, the old general’s expression immediately soured.

“Captain Riley,” Francisco said roughly, clearly not pleased to see his presence. “Didn’t expect to see you here, of all people.”

“With all due respect, General,” Riley replied steadily, “I didn’t come here for pleasantries. I came because half the city’s gone dark, and I need to know what the hell we’re dealing with.”

Francisco sighed through his nose. “What we’re dealing with is a massacre,” he began, rubbing his temples. “We’ve got reports from over thirty districts that were attacked by armed groups calling themselves the ‘Followers of True Chaos’. They appeared out of nowhere and butchered many civilians like cattle. We hit them with everything with bullets, grenades, and holy munitions, and they just kept walking.”

“Regenerators?” Riley asked, already checking the data of the field reports on his wristpad.

“More than that,” Francisco said grimly. “They are practically immortal. Magic bullets don't do that much, even the ones blessed by the Alien Witch only slow them down. The only thing that put them down for good were mine.”

Riley glanced up. “The ones infused with your own blood?”

“The Blood of Christ,” Francisco corrected without hesitation.

Riley frowned. “Then we’re not dealing with regular corrupted humans. These things are metaphysical.”

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Meanwhile, out on the burning streets, Mason, Price, Woods, Belinski, and Tavish spread out, assisting with recovery and keeping the perimeter secure. 

Flames were consuming what little remained of the business district and collapsing structures were groaning like dying beasts, while the screams of trapped civilians were screaming for help under the rubble.

Mason, being half-demon, drew hostile stares from the Black Armored Legion soldiers stationed nearby. Their distrust was obvious, so he kept close to the others instead of reporting to command.

“Jesus Christ,” Price muttered, lifting an overturned bus with his draconic strength to free the people beneath. “We are only three minutes late, and the city’s already turning into a goddamn graveyard again.”