Chapter 1959: I Pity You For It
Chapter 1959: I Pity You For It
"You have a mission."
Farhan straightened his posture at the voice.
He’s a Marshal and has been in that position for over twenty years, and yet his eyes were still fixated on the Millinar position right above his current military rank. Just a few minutes ago, he was called and informed that he had a gold-star mission.
A gold-star mission meant that if he succeeded, it would be written in his official military achievement.
Just one more gold-star mission before he could get the promotion he wanted.
So, he was really nervous right now.
Farhand was currently standing inside a neat, classical office. Bookshelves of dark, oiled wood covered the entire room, heavy with leather-bound volumes, and the furniture gleamed with the quiet arrogance of power and status.
Behind the broad desk, a one-eyed man sifted through documents.
His single eye scanned lines of intelligence with the cold efficiency of a butcher sorting sliced meat.
As someone who could issue a gold-star mission—he’s naturally a High Milinar of the Deep Samsara Covenant, an elite force loyal to High Lord Ursa. Someone with countless years of experience and also high-profile military exploits—High Milinar Ligneas.
Someone who demanded respect in any room he entered.
He found the sheet he wanted and read it properly.
"Prepare your squad. You will be testing a new variable—an unknown figure who was found operating alongside High Milinar Alexander." He opened his palm, and grains of sand materialized—and swirled like a living smoke before coalescing into a perfect, waist-high effigy of a man.
A muscular man with short black hair, crimson eyes, and wearing a red skull mask.
"This is your target. Intel came from puppets in the Grey Realm who witnessed the aftermath. It’s your mission to find out more about this man, as we know nothing other than that he’s weaker than Alexander. If you can, you can also kill him on sight. It’s up to you," He waved his hand, and the sand shifted from the muscular man to a building. "Several of our sources inside Larta City stated that he’s in a high-end apartment building near the city square, inside a penthouse at the very top.
"Naturally, the building has advanced spatial defenses, the kind that is hard to break."
’A gold-star mission, and all I need to do is to probe this man?’ Farhan clicked his tongue in displeasure. ’Isn’t this too easy?’
Considering that this would be his last gold-star mission, he wanted something special.
Something that would make his ascent theatrical. Something more fitting for someone like him.
And this is not something he wanted.
But it’s not that he can refuse when the chance of getting a gold-star mission like this is very low.
"I know what you are thinking," High Milinar Ligneas leaned forward and crossed his arms on the table. "And all I can say is to never underestimate the enemy. The Deep Samsara Covenant won against the Red Skull Elite Force; I am sure you’ve heard the news by now, but there are things that you don’t know about the victory."
"If I may..." Farhan spoke politely. "What things do I not know about our victory?"
"Yes, we achieved our goal because of the High Lord’s strategy. But Manvac and his squadron were wiped out entirely," High Milinar Lagneas said with a stern tone, giving the facts straight without a filter. "In fact, we inflicted barely any casualties on High Milinar Alexander’s squadron."
Hearing this made Farhan frown.
He knew how strong Manvac was as he had seen it with his own two eyes.
In fact, Manvac was so strong that he fervently believed there was nothing he could do to survive if he was ever in a position where Manvac was trying to kill him. And for that kind of figure to be defeated without being able to inflict heavy casualties shocked him to the core.
As expected, the Red Skull Elite Force is not an easy opponent at all.
Even though they were relatively new, their combat prowess was immense.
"High Milinar Alexander hid—while your target distracted Manvac, which ended up trapping him in a brutal ambush," High Milinar Lagneas continued. "It’s most likely your target’s plan to do that. That is why I want you to also soul-search him, as he might know something important.
"So, what is it going to be?" He questioned. "Are you going to probe or make direct contact?"
"Direct contact," Farhan answered without hesitation.
Since it seemed to be important to soul-search the target, he would do exactly that instead of being safe and observing from a distance. After all, this would be his promotional mission, so he wanted to do something spectacular for the Deep Samsara Covenant.
"Good," High Miliar Lagneas nodded.
From a drawer, he took out a metallic plate and slid it to the desk’s edge.
"Use this to strip the building’s defenses and isolate the target in a pocket dimension. Do what you need to do to obtain the intel and leave. He’s not in Alexander’s class, so I expect your squad’s success. Do not fail and disappoint me."
"Yes, Sir!"
Farhan took the plate, saluted, and left the office.
Outside, he quickly made his way to his compound and gathered his squad—with a few clipped words—and they made their way to the target’s location. Everyone was around the same strength, as they were a special team.
A Kill Squad that is separate from any department.
Each one of them was under the fast-track officer military program.
And Farhan’s title as a Marshal was shared by all of them, so when they heard Farhan was given the chance to complete his final gold-star mission, the one that’d elevate him to the rank of a Milinar, the excitement was shared among everyone.
It would be their last step before they each could have their own squad and be respected.
Free from having to take on risky missions to broaden their horizons about the fierce world.
Having their own office, their own squad, their own medal and respect—everything was within reach.
Just one more mission, and their dreams would come true.
As they walked and transported through their own portals, Farhan’s mind kept circling back to the target that High Milinar Lagneas showed. Not out of wariness—but out of anticipation. A successful mission would tip the scales heavily toward promotion.
His name would climb the ranks, and so would his influence.
And after hazardous years of gruelling missions and training, he allowed himself a sliver of excitement.
Still, he tempered it.
Not underestimating opponents is one of the very first fundamental rules that were drilled into him since the start of the military officer program. And thus, Farhan never underestimated a target. But ten Awakened Demigods against one? The chances are on their side.
Naturally, the outcome should be predictable—inevitable.
Farhan and eight others waited in the pocket dimension; their forms were astral and invisible, waiting for their comrade, who was an expert in the chasm of espionage, to slip into Larta City through a portal prepared by their moles and make his way to the apartment building.
Knowing their comrade, there was no doubt that he would succeed.
But each second passed as they waited, their hearts couldn’t stop racing even further.
Just one more mission to reach their dreams.
Everyone would feel unabated excitement from that simple fact alone—especially when they had been denied their promotions for decades. It was a bummer that their last gold-star mission didn’t involve killing a high-profile target, but someone close to High Milinar Alexander was enough.
None of them would complain too much about that.
Soon, as expected, their comrade managed to hurl the metallic plate into the penthouse.
All of them could see the ripple in the barrier caging the pocket dimension, which was the sight that the device had detonated and caught the people inside the penthouse. In the spaces that could not be seen, Farhan saw three figures appearing inside the pocket dimension.
One of them was a muscular man with a stature that matched the effigy.
"It’s time," He said and looked at the others. "Let’s finish this and return as Milinars."
"Don’t gotta tell me twice."
"Shame that this won’t be some climactic battle befitting us."
"All of you wanted a climactic battle? I’m grateful that things are going to be easy. Just wanted to get this part of my life over with."
Swiftly, Farhan and the others materialized. All of them rose from the flowery meadow like figures born of the crimson moon above. Ten Awakened Demigods in a pocket dimension sealed from the world. No reinforcement would be able to enter this place.
At least, not after they finished what they came here to do.
Across the plain, their target stood with two women behind him.
Only three figures, cornered and outnumbered.
Farhan met the unknown man’s eyes, ready to savour the flash of fear that would strike anyone in his position. Being merely an Awakened Demigod that was trapped with ten hostile Awakened Demigods would scare anyone.
Heck, even Farhan would be scared in that kind of position.
But the eyes that stared back at him held no fear that he anticipated.
It held something close to excitement. Hungry and rageful excitement. Something that was close to the excitement that Farhan and the others were feeling right now, but stronger. Tenfold. As if this unknown man had been waiting for them to come. As if the pocket dimension was not a trap, but a gift.
A cold premonition slithered through Farhan’s confidence before he could crush it.
And for the first time, he wondered if they had cornered their target or if the target had cornered them.
’No, I must be overthinking. Even if he’s abnormally strong, there are ten of us and one of him,’ Farhan’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the two women. ’Both of them didn’t look like whores. Seemed capable of defending themselves. Are those two his partners? Either way, their auras are feeble. Not a threat.’
"You have sided with the wrong faction," One of them announced loudly. "You sided against us—and now, the Deep Samsara Covenant demands your mind and your life. Don’t make it harder than it needs to be.
"Surrender," Another one added with arrogance. "And we’ll make sure your death is painless."
Rex remained silent.
Behind him, Davina went to the side and sat on a tree root that bulged from the ground.
She crossed her legs and sat there nonchalantly.
As if she were not someone who had fallen into a trap and couldn’t escape.
Lilliana moved to stand beside Rex, her gaze sweeping over the enemy forces with quiet assessment. A faint, knowing smile touched her lips. "Go on. Play. Go all out if you want to." She turned to Rex; one finger raised like a mother correcting a child. "We won’t interfere. But remember—if even one of them reaches us, we’ll be forced to step in."
She then flashed a sweet, broadened smile, "Have fun..."
Once she told Rex that, she turned around and sat down beside Davina to watch the battle unfold.
Both knew that it would be a spectacularly bloody battle, and they were interested to see.
Just then, Rex stepped forward and swept his crimson eyes at his enemies.
He was trying so hard not to smile, but it was hard to hold back when the rush of excitement had filled his bloodstream.
"I don’t know why you guys are sent to kill me, but I’m grateful," Rex said loud enough for the enemies to hear. "I truly am."
"You are right in front of death’s door," Farhan said, stepping forward, eyes narrowing with the sharpness of a powerful warrior that was ready to strike. "Wipe that smile of yours and surrender, or else we’ll make sure you regret it."
"Surrender?" Rex let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You believe you can kill me with this little?" His smile didn’t reach his eyes. "I apologize in advance, but you’re sorely mistaken. And I pity you for it."