Supreme Paragon Reborn: Humanity's Rise To Galactic Supremacy-Chapter 227: Never forget

Panicked screams echoed beneath the looming giant. Civilians tensed their tendons to the limits, running with everything they had, only to prove it meaningless as they were caught by the mechanical tentacles.

The soldiers that had been patrolling the street looking for any signs of rogue AI froze, their faces pale, pure terror gripping their very hearts.

Apprentices, Adepts, Experts, Masters, and even several Grandmasters bolted out of the area, instantly knowing that they were hopelessly outmatched.

No different than staring down a god.

[Predictable, merely looking at my form is enough to send them into a frenzy.]

The sentient AI spoke mockingly, its right hand extending swiftly.

Smoke emitted as it grandly changed shape from a humanoid limb to a colossal cannon. Pure spiritual energy was condensed at the very end, a second later blasting a powerful beam.

Swosh!

Traveling hundreds of kilometers in a heartbeat, the projectile collided with the outer walls of Magmorious.

BOOM!

The whole city was painted in blinding light for a moment. Then, as if an atomic bomb had been unleashed, a great mushroom cloud rose high in the air, followed by a powerful shockwave that caused the nearby civilians to erupt in a violent burst.

Needless to say, the sheer intensity of the energy reduced the walls and everything in their vicinity to ashes, allowing the threatening hot atmosphere to creep into the city.

Unmoved by the pleading humans beneath it, the giant’s strides crushed them like ants beneath its feet.

Simultaneously as the mushroom cloud rose higher and higher, numerous silhouettes began to appear out of the abysmal hole the giant had created.

"There is something there!"

One soldier brave enough to peek inside regretted his decision instantly. An android appeared before him, killing him in one swift move.

From a simple glance it was easy to deduce that this android was of the same kind Michael had declared to rival a General tier alien!

What’s worse, each second more of them seemed to come out. Their numbers easily reach into the hundreds. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"You’ve got to be fucking kidding me." Michael muttered barely above a whisper, bearing witness to the disaster at the far horizon.

Everything, quite literally everything, he could have done to minimize wasted time was done. He secured a foothold in the capital within days and dispatched experienced teams to scout the tunnels. And yet it all proved meaningless in the end.

’You can make every correct decision and still fail. That isn’t unfair, it’s life.’ Devil’s Tongue remarked in his owner’s head.

"No..." Michael disagreed, his eyes turning bloodshot, not from his technique but from fury.

"If I hadn’t lingered on Earth, if I had come to Venus sooner... This is my fault. I made a mistake. I should never have let myself rest at home. Making sure my family was alright should have been enough before I departed for my next target, but I wanted to spend time with them... I gave in to the temptation... And now, because of that choice, millions will die."

’Hold on, partner!’ The Devil’s Tongue bellowed. ’Are you seriously saying you don’t deserve a few days of rest? Are you truly that insane? A warrior without reason or reward will eventually find his grip faltering. No soldier can keep moving forward if they forget why they fight... no one! What makes you think you are any different?’

"..." Michael remained silent, wordlessly observing the panic spreading across the city.

’ANSWER ME!’ Devil’s Tongue insisted.

"Because, I never forget what’s important." Michael answered, going back to where the crew was located.

Entering from the broken window, he noted that the others had familiarized themselves with the situation by watching the screen on Livia’s laptop that streamed the disaster.

As everybody shared grim expressions, Livia was already on several calls simultaneously, barking orders left and right, attempting to restore order.

"Pull back from the lava lake, and bring reinforcements!" She gazed at the towering giant in worry, "We need Lords! As many as possible!"

At the other end a static voice came out.

"It’s impossible! I don’t know what is going on in the capital, but it’s causing the aliens in the lava lake to act up! The Lords can’t afford to withdraw. Otherwise, the aliens will reach the city!"

Livia gritted her teeth. "I am telling you if they don’t come back now, there won’t be a place to return to anymore!"

Instead of responding to her words, a horrific shout echoed from the other side.

"Oh, GOD! It was true, a Monarch! And not one but two! Evac—"

The call ended abruptly.

"Monarch?... Now?"

Everybody shared a concerted glance.

"Miss Livia!"

As if on cue, the door to the office opened, and a worried office worker appeared from the other side.

"You are the new minister of defense, your safety is of utmost importance. We evacuate at once!"

Grinding her teeth, Livia didn’t hesitate. As the new acting leader of the army, it was vital she remained alive. Otherwise her death would bring even more havoc among the military ranks.

"Take these!" She said, giving a small comm to each member of the crew.

"With these we can communicate instantly, bypassing other channels."

Before departing, she took a firm hold of Robert’s hand.

"Robert—"

She began only to be interrupted as the Lord put a finger over her lips.

"You know I can’t bring myself to turn a blind eye to this." He flashed her a charming smile.

With a heavy heart, Livia turned the other way, exiting out of the office.

"I know, just please... don’t die." She whispered.

The moment she was outside, so was the Lord, moving with speed no one besides Michael was able to perceive.

"Wait for me in front of the parliament." Michael ordered them with firm eyes, going after the Lord.

Fortunately it wasn’t hard to catch up, the man had stopped to gaze at the scene at the top of the building just like Michael had earlier.

"From the little time we have spent together, I know that you are a person that doesn’t beat around the bush." Robert spoke, his gaze focused on the 500-meter giant.

"If we fight, what are my chances?"

Michael shook his head.

"You would certainly die."

He was being sincere. Even from this distance the spiritual energy the metal creation was emitting was overwhelming. Something far more sinister than a simple Lord could handle.

Robert chuckled. "So... not even one percent?"

"..."

Michael’s silence was more than enough.

"I see..." Robert’s gaze lowered for a few seconds.

"Before I go."

The Lord’s violent eyes began to gleam with unrivaled power, his long green hair whipping in the fierce wind he summoned.

"Can you promise me... that you will ensure Livia’s safety?"

Michael’s answer was swift. "Yes."

"...Thank you."

As the words left the Lord’s mouth, he was already gone, racing to slow the towering giant and save as many lives as possible.

The strong current he caused on his departure swiped Michael’s hair to the side, his gaze lingering on the spot the Lord once stood.

"Never forget."

Michael tightened his grip on Devil’s Tongue on his way to organize the army that would face the approaching danger.

"Never forget..."