Supreme Paragon Reborn: Humanity's Rise To Galactic Supremacy-Chapter 229: The Capital Will Stand

Gradually wind began to pick up, the hostile climate spreading across the whole capital from the hole the giant had created.

Millions of soldiers found their hesitation momentarily melted away. Their gazes shifted from the towering giant to a man that took heavy steps walking to the front.

Strangely, despite being a simple Master, the warriors knew who it was. Michael, the one who had uncovered the rogue AIs. His soul weapon that was strapped to his back was unmistakable.

"WARRIORS!"

His eyes began to gleam a threatening hue of crimson as his powerful shout echoed across the whole valley.

"Look at these hulks of metal who dare challenge our authority over these lands!"

With a powerful roar, Cyberfang leaped high in the air, landing in front of Michael. Instinctively, the nearby soldiers moved to the side, opening a clear path as Michael moved forward unfazed.

"Do they not know who we are?"

His eyes swept among the soldiers, sending chills down their spines.

"We are humans, the inventors and masters of war! The species born to inherit the stars! The gods of this universe who would make any alien race submit!"

Raw, uncontrollable rage began to build up in his voice.

"And yet, we have allowed an enemy to invade our lands, slaughter our kin, kidnap our offspring, and challenge our supremacy!"

The soldiers’ eyes narrowed, their teeth clenched tightly, their palms closing into trembling fists of raw fury. How come the ruthless universe always seemed to be against them? As if hell-bent on erasing their very heritage... The one their ancestors had built over millions of years of warfare and evolution, which brought them to this point in history.

Were they really about to let their sacrifices be for naught?

"NO MORE!"

Reaching the frontline, Michael stepped at the very front.

"Warriors, we shall endure no longer! It’s high time we drive back the ones foolish enough to stand against humanity. Overwhelm their numbers, slaughter their kind, crush their spirits, and extinguish their flame of ambition. For united we are unbeatable! March with me, soldiers! Let us purge thy lands!"

A flicker of flame began to burn in the troops’ eyes, instantly engulfing their spirits and hearts alike.

"Purge..." One man muttered, his lips trembling slightly.

"Purge!" Another began to feel a raw emotion tugging his heart, taking root in his soul.

"PURGE!"

Yelling in unison, the soldiers took a step forward, their hearts lit ablaze.

"Even if one or millions of us were to fall, that will not quell our anger. No! That shall only make us more feral, starved for vengeance. For revenge!"

Gracefully leaping onto Cyberfang’s back, Michael gripped the beast with one hand while raising his sword with the other.

"We will purge any creature that dares enter our territory, for that is what we humanity do best! I vow here and now, this capital will stand! GLORY TO MANKIND!"

"PURGE! PURGE! PURGE!"

Like an unstoppable force, the soldiers began to move forward, their chants fueling their determination further.

"ADVANCE!"

Upon Michael’s command every trace of fear was extinguished, everyone in the army starting to march fearlessly towards death.

Their target, the towering giant, at last halted its rampage, its metallic spine extending, making it stand to its full height.

Before it Robert stood. His elegant aura of a Lord gone, his limbs trembled with pain, and crimson blood trailed from his mouth.

With a shaky breath, he stood back on his exhausted feet. Most of his spiritual energy was long gone. He was unable to fly anymore.

"Not yet!"

Despite stepping with one foot in death, his violet eyes didn’t lose their edge. Even now there didn’t appear to be any trace of hesitation in his most likely last moments.

"From now on, to my last breath, I will never step back. As a human, as a member of humanity, I shall choose death over bowing at another existence’s feet a thousand times over!"

Amused, the giant tilted its head to the side.

[Humans... Such foolish creatures, what drives you forward when you know your end is inevitable? There is no point to your resistance, no point to your struggles. Should you simply submit to that which has surpassed you, things will go more smoothly.]

"NEVER!" Robert bellowed, gathering his last energy to strike.

Wordlessly the giant responded in kind. Before the Lord could retaliate, it moved its giant leg with speed that nobody was able to perceive.

Its giant form blurred, shattering past buildings that proved barely an inconvenience, a second later it collided with Robert like an ant. The sheer intensity of the strike sent him flying dozens of kilometers, finally stopping at a distant house. His aura diminished so much it reached almost non-existent levels.

Whether the Lord was alive or not remained unclear. Though one thing was for certain. Even if he still took breath, he wouldn’t be joining the fight any time soon.

Just as the AI was about to continue its rampage, its sensors began to pick up a powerful chant nearing it.

Intrigued, it shifted its head, bearing witness to an army of millions marching towards it.

Robert’s stalling maneuver proved successful, holding the towering robot at bay long enough for the humans to rally their forces.

[Could this be perhaps the flaw that stopped them from gaining perfection? That ego... that nonsensical quality all of them possess to stand against the unbeatable even when there are no odds of victory...]

It was certainly an interesting theory, one that the sentient AI hadn’t considered. That in turn birthed the question, if it were to successfully crush their spirits and quell their rebellion, would that proof be enough to alter their souls? Allowing it to further its research on its creators, whom it had surpassed long ago?

[So be it...]

Rotating its massive body, the AI faced the marching army, its legs moving forwards as it took colossal strides, willing to stand against them in battle.

[Let me prove it to you all... That you have no hope of overcoming me...]

The humanity troops remained unfazed, their chants erasing any possibility of fear.

Reaching the wide empty expanse spanning five by five kilometers, the sentient AI stood before the army, looming like a god over its challengers.

Finally, the time had come... For one last clash.