This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 717 - 373: The Moment of Rebellion, Has Come!_2

Chapter 717: Chapter 373: The Moment of Rebellion, Has Come!_2

The Creator Divine Craftsman’s face darkened slightly.

At this moment, the Mechanical Soul Divine Craftsman descended as well. Ryan’s expression shifted slightly, while Prince Costat inside the Empire Flying Device was shocked and enraged, "What is he trying to do!?"

Li Ming furrowed his brows. The mechanical carrier of the Mechanical Soul Divine Craftsman was holding someone in his hand—it was Abel.

Jaint in the distance froze as if struck by lightning, his face blank. Turning around, he finally realized that the Abel standing behind him had somehow already turned into a Phantom.

"How... how could this be?"

Li Ming was astonished. When he transformed earlier, Abel had fled the moment he sensed danger. At that time, Ryan had been watching him closely, and he couldn’t just grab Abel.

Unexpectedly, Abel was caught and brought back by the Mechanical Soul Divine Craftsman.

Just as the Dominion Holy Image had said, this Divine Craftsman was usually calm but had a highly extreme way of doing things.

He had been researching extremely advanced virtual intelligence technology for a long time, maintaining a complex relationship with the Hammer Divine Craftsman as both friends and rivals. After the latter’s disappearance, he had spent years searching for him.

He had once shared an idea with the Hammer Divine Craftsman, suggesting that the Universe was essentially a colossal virtual database, with the Information State as its code.

If he could decipher its essence, he might be able to create something out of nothing.

There were even rumors that he had ties with the Controller behind the Black Hole Network.

The Creator Divine Craftsman felt a jolt in his chest. Why did this old codger capture Abel? His aim was to defuse the situation, not escalate it further.

Under the watchful eyes of the audience, accountability would surely follow. The Mechanician Association was initially in a perfect position as the victim, but now, thanks to the Mechanical Soul Divine Craftsman’s actions, they’d be subjected to criticism instead.

Abel’s expression darkened, humiliation and fury overpowered his fear. He was held in the craftsman’s hand like a dead dog, and even though the craftsman was a Divine Craftsman, Abel felt an unbearable sense of disgrace.

Prince Costat’s face turned pale. The situation had spiraled completely out of control, and he still had to suppress Polk, leaving him almost no room to act.

"Are you using him to threaten me?" Prince Ryan squinted coldly.

"I know you don’t care, but if he dies, the impact on you won’t be insignificant, will it?" The Mechanical Soul Divine Craftsman spoke with an icy expression.

"The Empire never negotiates with those who threaten it. Besides, do you really dare kill him?" Prince Ryan sneered.

The Mechanical Soul Divine Craftsman fell silent for a moment, then walked up to the Mechanical Sovereign and directly handed Abel to Li Ming.

Li Ming was stunned but quickly reacted. His mechanical structure at his chest opened up, and he stuffed Abel entirely inside.

Ryan’s expression shifted slightly. If he were to launch an attack, the mere aftermath would tear Abel apart, equating to Ryan personally killing him.

This Divine Craftsman was ruthless and succinct in action. Li Ming couldn’t help but admire him; Abel had essentially become his protective talisman.

"Ryan!" Prince Costat’s mental fluctuations resonated once more, laden with anger and warning.

Under pressure from multiple sides, a wave of suppressed rage surged within Prince Ryan’s heart.

But he had to admit that Abel being in the other party’s hands indeed forced him into a dilemma.

The situation seemed to have reached a deadlock. Prince Ryan stepping in was a show of force to reclaim the Empire’s dignity trampled underfoot. If he retreated humiliated, it would be utterly disgraceful.

No one knew how many people were in this area, but despite that, it was eerily silent, with everyone holding their breath. The only sound was the humming of recording equipment.

While tranquility filled this space, the Interstellar Network had already exploded into chaos. It had been years since anyone had seen such a spectacle.

"Shut down external communications!" Prince Costat suddenly turned sharply towards Diwusi and Crow, who were watching enthusiastically.

Upon hearing Costat’s words, they naturally declined, "Sorry, we still have confidential data being transmitted externally; we can’t shut it down."

After all, it wasn’t their reputation or losses at stake.

"Diwusi!" Costat’s eyes turned blood-red with anger. "Don’t challenge the bottom line of the Empire!"

Diwusi’s expression turned cold. He paused briefly but ultimately decided to give the Empire some face. "Remember, you owe us for this."

"Send the order to shut down the communication center."

"Fine, shut it down," Crow added without much concern.

It would take some time between issuing the order and the actual shutdown.

Polk’s expression flickered, and he suddenly spoke up: "Let me give it a try; maybe I can stop this farce."

Polk’s sudden intervention drew the attention of the three individuals.

Prince Costat instinctively furrowed his brows. Was he joking? Polk was the Empire’s "sworn enemy"; there was no way he had such good intentions.

"However, I want the Empire to release someone—Siril." Polk stated bluntly.

"Impossible." Prince Costat categorically denied him, his response decisive. "That man slaughtered nine nobles. Three Dukes died by his hand, as well as four Level Two Senators."

Polk fell silent, letting out a helpless sigh. Costat, however, noticed his lack of rebuttal and mulled over his thoughts before adding:

"Resolve the current situation, and in exchange for at least a hundred high-ranking Lurkers, we can consider your request."

"Fifty." Polk immediately countered.

"Deal." Costat thought deeply and nodded, followed by another question: "How do you plan to resolve this situation?"

"Why did Prince Ryan make his move?" Polk asked in return.

Prince Costat answered in a grave tone: "Because Azure Dragon killed Nicholas..."

Before finishing his sentence, Costat paused abruptly, his expression suddenly shifting with shock and disbelief. "Nicholas is in your hands?"

Polk suddenly grinned, his aged face creasing with wrinkles. "Why are you all so certain that it was Azure Dragon who did it?"

Costat froze in astonishment. Was it really not Azure Dragon who acted?

"Haha..." Polk laughed heartily. "How amusing. Who would’ve thought the day would come when we, the Holy Revolution Army, stepped forward to admit something, yet people still have doubts."

Even Costat felt an overwhelming sense of confusion. Diwusi and Crow wore similarly perplexed expressions; the Empire had been duped.

Had they misdirected their confrontation with Azure Dragon?

"Your turn now." Costat growled angrily, humiliated. Polk composed himself and said, "Let’s go."

He stepped into the fray, Costat closely following behind while using Blood Energy to obscure their forms.

"Lord Costat," Polk suddenly spoke. Unnoticed, a crystal in his mind shattered silently.

Within the blood-drenched energy, Costat turned his gaze toward him, only to find a radiant white light emanating from Polk’s pupils.

At that moment, Costat’s face twisted in horror upon detecting an immensely terrifying Power of the Mind surging through the vine-like channel he had extended into Polk’s body.

Not good! He was tricked!

Enraged and panicked, he hadn’t expected Polk to have a hidden move.

Whatever method Polk employed, the fearsome power of the mind was overwhelming.

It even left Costat with a sense of irresistible despair, his expression distorted, struggling in torment.

The surrounding blood-red barriers dissipated, revealing the two figures.

"Polk?" Ryan looked on coldly, unsure of Polk’s intentions.

The arrival of a new figure instantly drew the attention of countless onlookers, all focused on Polk.

Li Ming also fixed his gaze on the elderly figure.

"This is the second-generation leader of the Holy Revolution Army, the guide—Polk," Costat announced faintly, his expression bewildered. "Before his execution, he has a few words to say."

Everyone froze in disbelief. The second-generation leader of the Holy Revolution Army—a monumental figure.

Li Ming’s eyes flickered, sensing that the Pioneer’s contingency plan had arrived.

Polk pondered as his gaze swept over the dense crowd below. "The Empire is hopelessly corrupt. The Interstellar treasure, the Eternal Silence Star, has long been lost."

"Meanwhile, the Terrax Civilization’s lost artifact, the Holy Castle, lies within the Empire’s borders—treasures sufficient to create a new Empire are all there."

"Civilizations, groups, and organizations oppressed by the Empire—the moment to resist has arrived. Do you crave boundless wealth and power? Do you want to overthrow the Star Abyss Empire? Then go find it!"

Total silence enveloped the area. Everyone stood as still as statues.

Prince Costat’s face turned stiff, then contorted as anger shattered Polk’s mental control. His eyes burned with thunderous fury, "You’re seeking death!"

At such proximity, his blood-red fist, imbued with endless violent energy, crashed down like a falling star toward Polk’s frail frame.

A deafening "Bang" echoed as the blood-red fist landed squarely on him.

Boom!

It was as if a Star Ring had exploded. Blinding blood-red energy surged wildly like an unbridled blood ocean roaring ferociously, sweeping out destructively in all directions.

Where it passed, the void warped beyond recognition. Light was swallowed, plunging the surrounding space into the terrifying blood-red storm.

The mighty energy fluctuations shook the entire area violently, teetering on collapse, slashing recklessly at everything around like countless sharp blades.