[The Battlefield: Despair and Miracle]

  On the ruins of the 13th Street, the atmosphere seemed to be torn in half.

  On one side was the extreme of "Oppression" and "Distortion." The ten-meter-tall Stitched Corpse Colossus stood amidst the smoke. Its body was pieced together from countless corpses drained of value; every piece of rotten flesh, every steel rebar, spoke of cold, industrial violence. Though its left arm's hydraulic system had been jammed by Bone, its intact right arm swung a barbed iron chain that emitted a sickening wail.

  Hanging from that chain were not just spikes, but the screams of countless wronged souls. It was the Guild's torture instrument for suppressing rebellion and harvesting spirits.

  On the other side, a pillar of Azure Light, representing "Loyalty" and "Judgment," tore through the void.

  Within the pillar, there was no nauseating stench of blood, no cold mechanical noise.

  Only a surge of Righteous Qi, like a sharp sword piercing the smog that shrouded the city.

  "This energy fluctuation..."

  Grace's data stream jumped wildly on the screen, exceeding her calculation limits. "This isn't just Psionic Power! This is... Wish Power (Willpower)!"

  "Correct."

  Daoist Singularity, though far away in the Underworld, spoke with reverence.

  "Kid, watch closely. The one you summoned is not just a general. He is a symbol."

  "For thousands of years, countless people have bowed before the Temple of Guan Yu. Countless brothers have sworn oaths in the Peach Garden reciting his name. The hearts of people longing for fairness, for loyalty, for someone to enforce justice on behalf of Heaven—they have converged into this power."

  "He is not fighting alone. He comes with a thousand years of 'Yi Qi' (Righteous Brotherhood)."

  [Martial Saint Descends]

  The light pillar dispersed.

  A striking parrot-green battle robe stood out prominently against the gray ruins.

  Guan Yu, Guan Yunchang.

  His mount, the Red Hare, snorted white steam, its four hooves treading on azure clouds. His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, his silkworm eyebrows raised. Though he made no move, the majesty radiating from his bones made the surrounding Scavenger soldiers involuntarily stop in their tracks, feeling an urge to kneel.

  This was Divine Might.

  Guan Yu did not look at the ant-like soldiers. His gaze crossed the battlefield and landed on the massive Corpse Colossus.

  "What monster dares to harm my brother?"

  His voice was not loud, yet it resonated like a great bell, causing the Corpse Colossus to instinctively take a step back.

  The Colossus was dead; it felt no fear. But the Necromancer controlling it (via remote link) did. The commander hiding behind the screen felt as if his soul was gripped by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe.

  "K-Kill him! That's an illusion!" the commander screamed hysterically. "Mechs cover fire! Colossus charge!"

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  "ROAR—!"

  The Colossus went berserk again. The two backup Titan Mechs behind it opened fire simultaneously, pouring a storm of bullets and energy beams like rain.

  [Wine Warm, Head Gone · Cyberpunk Edition]

  Facing this overwhelming attack, Guan Yu didn't even lift his eyes.

  He simply stroked his beautiful beard with one hand and lifted the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, weighing eighty-two catties, with the other.

  "Peddlers selling their own heads."

  This ancient phrase, traversing a millennium, was projected directly into the minds of every neighbor watching the battle, and even the citizens across the city secretly watching the stream, via Grace's real-time translation system.

  [Grace: Translation: 'You all have "For Sale" tags on your heads.' Meaning... in Lord Guan's eyes, you are already dead.]

  [Singularity: No, girl. This isn't just contempt; it's a judgment. He is telling those powerful figures who treat human lives like grass—'Your lives have a price, too. Today, it's time to pay up.']

  Guan Yu scoffed cold.

  "Red Hare!"

  Neigh—!

  The crimson divine steed erupted with speed that defied physics.

  It didn't run in a straight line; it transformed into a red lightning bolt, weaving through the gaps in the bullet rain. The speed was so extreme it left a series of afterimages on John's retinas.

  "That's unscientific!" Grace shrieked. "Is that anti-gravity maneuvering?!"

  "This is Human and Horse as One!" Singularity laughed. "In front of the Martial Saint, even Newton has to show some respect!"

  In the blink of an eye, Guan Yu had rushed to the feet of the Corpse Colossus.

  It was a ten-meter-tall giant. Guan Yu looked like a toy in front of it.

  The Colossus raised its massive iron chain, a blow powerful enough to pulverize a building.

  "DIE!"

  The chain fell.

  But in that split second.

  Guan Yu moved.

  He didn't dodge, nor did he block.

  He performed a single move—Dragging the Blade.

  The blade of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade dragged across the ground, creating a dazzling trail of sparks.

  Then, borrowing the momentum of the Red Hare's charge, borrowing the thousand-year-old desire to "sever injustice," and borrowing the fury in John's heart to avenge Bone.

  Guan Yu yanked the reins, and the Red Hare leaped into the air.

  He completed an impossible mid-air turn.

  "Spring and Autumn Blade Technique · First Form!"

  "SLASH!!!"

  A visible azure Blade Qi (Sword Qi), dozens of meters long, erupted from the edge of the Crescent Blade.

  It wasn't just energy; it was materialized "Yi" (Righteousness).

  SHING—!

  Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

  No explosion sound, no impact noise.

  Only a very faint sound, like fabric being torn.

  John's eyes widened.

  He saw the azure blade light, like a swimming dragon, effortlessly slice through the Colossus's half-meter thick armor, slice through its alchemy-reinforced bones, slice through the sickening sutures inside its body.

  Not just the Colossus.

  The blade qi didn't dissipate after slicing the monster. It continued backward, slicing through the two Titan Mechs behind the Colossus, and even the abandoned building behind them...

  All split in two.

  [Outcome: Instant Kill]

  Rumble—

  A few seconds delayed, the massive boom finally arrived.

  The ten-meter-tall Corpse Colossus split neatly down the middle, falling to both sides. The cut was smooth as a mirror; even the green blood inside was instantly evaporated by the high heat, not a drop spilled.

  The Mechs behind it suffered the same fate.

  One slash.

  Just one slash.

  The Necromancy Guild's proud siege unit—Annihilated.

  Guan Yu sheathed his blade, the white horse landing steadily. Aside from some mud on its hooves, his silver armor remained spotless.

  He turned his head to look at John. In those phoenix eyes, there was no pleasure from slaughter, only the indifference of a mission accomplished.

  "Mere clay chickens and pottery dogs."

  These five words, once again amplified by Singularity, spread across the entire battlefield.

  Guan Yu waved his hand gently. The bone fragments of Bone that were still floating in the air were drawn by a gentle force, flying back to John.

  "Keep them well," Guan Yu's voice sounded in John's mind. "Though this man has no flesh and blood, he has loyal bones. A true hero."

  With that, he glanced at the pale white rising in the eastern sky.

  "Is the wine still warm?"

  John paused, instinctively touching the water flask (filled with hot soup from Uncle George earlier) he had been holding in his arms.

  It was still warm.

  Guan Yu smiled. It was a smile only heroes could understand.

  "Since the wine is still warm, I shall... depart."

  A flash of azure light.

  The Martial Saint vanished.

  Leaving only John standing on the ruins, holding Bone's fragments in his arms, gripping the still-warm flask.

  Dead silence surrounded them.

  Scavengers, neighbors—everyone was dumbstruck.

  They looked at the bisected giant beast, at the azure blade scar that lingered in the air even after the spirit had gone.

  In that moment, they saw not just power.

  They saw something that transcended technology, transcended life and death, even transcended time—

  Faith.

  [Message from Singularity]

  VIP Suite for you over on the Patreon Server. We are opening New Rooms (Chapters) for FREE daily. Even better? Select Chapters feature HD Illustrations for the full immersive experience.

  ?? [Enter the VIP Suite]