Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 1212 - 931: Divine Intervention

Chapter 1212: Chapter 931: Divine Intervention

Honma Noriko clenched her fist.

The silk gloves almost emitted a slight tearing sound as she increased her grip. She really wanted to curse them out! But she couldn’t lose composure in front of the swine.

This group of pigs... In peacetime, they can still take advantage of their fortunes, relying on inherited wealth to flaunt their power, yet when faced with critical times, they are helpless. So much experience, so many lessons, and the best they can manage is eating and sleeping, appearing no different from a herd of pigs.

The only intelligent being in this room was Honma Noriko herself, or so she thought.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Seeing that Honma Noriko did not explode, the room began to bustle and clamour again.

People whispered to each other, and the corridor outside was even noisier. They frantically exchanged opinions, contemplating what to do next.

"We need to get on that Ark and leave. Isn’t the purpose of the Ark Foundation to build an Ark to leave this world?"

"Should we propose a peace agreement to the Eastern Hemisphere Allied Forces? They’ve taken enough land already and should be satisfied. They probably never intended to swallow the entire New Taixi State in a single war."

"Damn it, we still have our main force. Why not fight? Let’s push the unestablished enemy into the sea; the residents of New York City are still waiting for us to rescue them!"

"Reflect well on the kind of barbaric acts we’ve committed that have led to such harsh revenge."

"Lord Dilnai, bless us..."

"I’ve served the Lighthouse Core from the beginning, while you! You’re nothing but a traitor! Coward!"

The endless chatter continued to rise.

Honma Noriko glanced around; no one dared to meet her gaze. Some even turned their backs on her.

A military composed of Easterners, Ratmen, Blacks, and robots... Such a "mob" was even more inferior than the swine in her eyes. Yet now they had reached the heart of the Lighthouse Core, threatening the lives of the old aristocracy, leaving the human elite at a loss.

They had no solution.

Honma Noriko watched the chaos indifferently. The Eastern Hemisphere Allied Forces were advancing rapidly; another armored corps had moved up to the defensive position of the mountain range, engaging in a life-and-death struggle with the defenders there. With the advantage of the terrain, they could probably hold out for another 17 hours.

The soldiers stationed at every frontline were well-equipped, armed to the teeth. Had she not distributed enough exoskeleton armor, kinetic weapons, and hive rockets to them? Honma Noriko pondered.

The supposedly world-leading military of the Lighthouse Core had suffered successive defeats in two months, indicating that their defense was lax, strong in appearance but weak within.

The people of New Taixi State had been numbed by a superior life, not even knowing how to fight the enemy desperately.

They needed morale, a do-or-die spirit. But at this point, where could she get morale for them? They were all too used to fighting with technological weapons, enjoying the thrill of pressing a button on a screen and blowing up a target hundreds of kilometers away. But once an enemy got within thirty paces, they would want to surrender.

Honma Noriko closed her eyes, suppressing the urge to issue commands. "Shouting orders to these swine" was a habit from her younger days that she had long since abandoned.

Today, she needed more useful weapons.

The precious images sent back from the front lines were filled with destroyed artillery emplacements, burning vehicles, and leveled fortresses. The enemy’s firepower was strong, casually destroying armor and shields, on par with the technology of the Lighthouse Core. Were they the Cyber Specters? They had activated Heberon once, accumulating enough advanced technology to close a 15-year gap back then.

Honma Noriko pulled out a katana, gesturing in front of her abdomen, imagining the pain of cutting her belly open after a defeat.

In especially extreme situations, she used this method to encourage herself, to focus her attention. "Cannot lose," she admonished herself. "Cannot lose; keep thinking of a way."

If she lost, there would be a large gash in her abdomen, and blood and guts would spill everywhere.

She never doubted the security of the Ark Foundation, built by a group of the most powerful people before the Heavenly Tribulation.

So, what had she missed? Honma Noriko needed time to be quiet and think.

She waved her hand, "You all can go now."

The people were relieved, like death row inmates hearing their sentence canceled, turning to leave one after another.

Angel Michael said to Honma Noriko, "Don’t forget to pray, madam."

"I’ve never prayed," Honma Noriko said. She had no faith.

"You can learn." Michael made a prayer gesture and then turned to leave.

After the golden light from the angel’s body faded, Honma Noriko suddenly felt her vision broaden. She looked up, realizing what she was missing.

Faith.

If the Eastern Hemisphere Allied Forces invaded, all the technicians and aristocrats would flee. They valued their lives greatly, and every controller’s password would be sold to the Cyber Specters, and every defense zone commander would rush to surrender to Lila Nestor to secure better treatment.

And at that time, she too would end up betrayed by everyone, kneeling on the ground, tasting the humiliation of defeat.

But now, now she was only threatened, not completely destroyed.

She turned to the wall behind her, where the sacred Dilnai cross hung high.

Honma Noriko knelt before the Dilnai cross.

In her life, she had never bowed to anyone, and today was the first time, sincerely and without reservation, worshipping. She leaned forward, prostrating on the ground, praying to the goddess Dilnai.

She was now a believer.

Incomparable holy light shone upon Honma Noriko.

She felt Divine Power and protection descending upon her.

Revelation? Miracle?

Honma Noriko had no desire to distinguish; she just knew it was useful.

She closed her eyes and listened to the sacred guidance.

"Yes, yes, Lord Dilnai." Honma Noriko’s tone was ethereal and reverent, "I await your command."

...

Lighthouse Core Supreme Commander Sebastian left Honma Noriko’s strategy conference room and walked briskly to the other end of the Ark Bunker, where his own planning room was located.

Standing by the table, Sebastian rubbed his tense eyes with his fingers, his mind endlessly whirling with various options.

A graduate of the New York City Military Academy, his implants held records of over 60,000 war scenarios, but never had he fought a battle like this.

After the disastrous defeat at the Anchorage battle, coupled with the enemy’s cunning attacks from multiple directions and the Corporate Alliance’s "betrayal", the defense line meticulously arranged by Sebastian was helplessly torn apart, collapsing into ruins before the enemy with superior weaponry.

From every rational perspective, surrender was their only remaining option.

He was the supreme commander of the Lighthouse Core troops, responsible for the lives of at least over three hundred thousand ground soldiers.

Since his men didn’t have the chance to board the Ark to escape to other worlds, at the very least, they should take one life back to their homeland...

Others conversed briefly with Sebastian, drafting terms for the armistice agreement:

New Taixi State ceding all territories west of the Great Mountain Range;

New York City to be designated as an intercontinental administrative zone, serving as a model port for free trade and a gateway to New Taixi State;

Fifty years of war reparations;

The handing over of everyone from the Ark Foundation—this was the only point that passed without controversy during discussions. The Ark Foundation, formerly the Seven Seals, had brought too much suffering to New Taixi State.

A series of rhythmic knocks struck, sounding peculiarly abrupt at this moment.

Sebastian straightened up, glancing at the clock, realizing there were only 30 minutes left for them to reach unanimous agreement and gracefully withdraw New Taixi State from the war, preserving most military and civilian lives.

"Come in." Sebastian called, hoping it was a robot bringing coffee for these senior officers.

The door opened gently, and Honma Noriko strode in.

A pale light radiated around her, and Sebastian’s eyes widened in shock. By right, Honma Noriko shouldn’t be here; wasn’t she supposed to be in her room, considering ending her life with a bullet? Once captured alive by the Eastern Hemisphere Allied Forces, the best outcome she’d face would be a merciful death.

Honma Noriko stood among the staff officers, her eyes flickering with the holy flames of Dilnai. People looked at Honma Noriko, as if seeing the supreme deity behind her eyes.

Lord Dilnai...

Sebastian’s mouth opened, filled with countless protests, inquiries, and shouts—all of which vanished without a trace.

All compromise, pleas, and surrender were shelved, as Sebastian’s hand clutched the table tightly. He and the other staff officers became exceptionally docile, listening to Honma Noriko’s directives.

"We’ve lost much territory, but we shall continue to make the enemy bleed until they realize this is not paradise, but another manifestation of hell." Honma Noriko said elegantly, "Commander, assemble your troops."

Sebastian took a deep breath, new noble ideas flooding his chest as if rekindling embers.

To fight for Lord Dilnai, the will of God!

"Yes...!" he nodded, turning to send orders to his subordinate strategy command. His troops were exhausted, battered by enemies from all directions, but he was unable to defy the higher will.

His heart was hardened by a certain force, compelling him to undertake actions against his true wishes.

"Continue, continue." Honma Noriko stood by Sebastian, watching him issue command after command.

Sebastian continued to play his role as the supreme commander of the headquarters, issuing deployment orders to various troops, urging them to fight for honor, for the survival of New Taixi State, and most importantly, for Lord Dilnai.

Facing such a great number of enemies, endless hostile armies, every deployment seemed futile, but Sebastian had Honma Noriko standing beside him, at that moment, she appeared to be the embodiment of Dilnai himself.

"Good." Honma Noriko’s voice penetrated to the depths of Sebastian’s soul, as if bestowing a command spell, "Now go to battle."

Sebastian turned his head, while the other staff members looked at Commander Sebastian, seemingly reading the embodiment of Dilnai in his eyes, thus, their own gazes became intangible, their souls ignited.

"For Lord Dilnai."

"Advance against the enemy...!"

"Fight to the end, Lord Dilnai will bless us." They carried out their respective duties, and the thought of surrender was erased from their minds.

The war machines of the Lighthouse Core continued to operate, never surrendering.

Honma Noriko stood among them, her entire being still shimmering with an enigmatic golden glow, her smile cold and sharp.

Pigs are beyond help, so every method used to deal with pigs should be employed.

"Activate video signals to all frontline officers and personnel." Honma Noriko said ethereally, "I want to address everyone in a video speech."