Chapter 23: Part (4): Besieged

Meanwhile, five kilometers outside the south gate of Eisenberg, in an abandoned church, Murphysia knelt before a broken statue.

Her purple robe spread across the stone floor, the candlelight turning her ash-colored hair golden…

The shattered statue’s eyes were long gone, leaving two black, empty sockets silently watching her prayer.

“Lord, please forgive these lost lambs,” her voice was soft, almost intoxicating. “They do not know what they are doing; let me guide them to atonement…”

On her beautiful face was a compassionate, sorrowful smile, as if she mourned the slaughter to come.

Especially when she thought of Mili’s terrified little face…

If those blue eyes were to well up, what would they look like?

What tone would she use to beg her?

How moving that expression would be…

“Ma’am, the vanguard is in position,” reported an officer in the Purification Temple uniform, bowing slightly at the church door.

But she made no other move, continuing her prayerful posture.

The candle flames flickered, and the corners of her lips curved imperceptibly.

“Very good,” Murphysia said softly, her voice as gentle as ever. “And the refugees’ morale?”

“As you instructed, we told them Eisenberg has large stockpiles of food. Once the city is taken, everyone will receive their share.”

“Do they believe it?”

“Completely!” The officer’s voice was filled with excitement:

“Those fools’ eyes turned green when they saw the samples of food we provided!”

“One old man even knelt and kissed my boots, saying: ‘Thank you, Your Excellency, for giving us hope!’”

The night wind blew her robes, and Murphysia shook her head slightly, letting her fingers trace the stone slabs. Then she rose and walked to the church door.

“Any news from Seraphina?”

“She has already left Eisenberg; it will take at least twenty minutes to return.”

“In that time, the signal jamming will fully cover the area. The White Night Queen is currently engaged with the convoy!”

“That will suffice…” The girl gazed at the distant towers of Eisenberg, the lights flickering faintly in her eyes:

“Begin the second phase.”

“Tell the faithful—this is a holy war.”

“To purify this world, any sacrifice is necessary…”

“We will save them.”

“Yes!”

The officer turned to leave, but Murphysia called him back.

“Wait, one thing must be emphasized.” She turned, her purple eyes deep in the firelight. “No matter what happens, protect the Saint at all costs.”

“Do not harm our little Saint… not even a little.”

“She is our goal, and the very meaning of this holy war…”

“Understood!”

The officer stepped into the night. Soon, the sound of war horns came from outside—the Purification Temple’s horns, low and sonorous…

The sound swept through the ruins, even scattering the crows in the distance.

Through the rubble, Murphysia watched the refugee tide begin moving toward Eisenberg.

They raised white flags, shouting “Save us!” and “Give us food!”

But behind the human flood, the true main force advanced quickly and stealthily.

Missile trucks adjusted their angles, rocket operators took cover, gunners checked ammunition, armored vehicles’ engines started to rumble…

“Poor little lambs…” The girl touched the badge on her chest, her eyes flickering with complex emotion. “May your sacrifice earn the Saint’s mercy and salvation…”

“I think… she will come to save you.”

…

Boom—!

The first shell exploded among the refugees. The massive fireball consumed a dozen innocent lives in an instant…

The carnage left the machine gunners on the wall pale, and a few young soldiers vomited on the spot.

But the bombardment did not stop.

Boom—boom—boom—!

Shell after shell fell into the crowd, each explosion taking dozens of lives…

Cries, screams, and explosions intertwined, staining half the night sky red…

The soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, palms slick with sweat.

“Damn! This again!” cursed an old soldier. “They always use innocents as shields!”

“Shut up!” snapped the squad leader. “Focus on the target! Wait for orders from above!”

“Oh Lord—”

Through the binoculars, the refugee tide drew closer…

At the front was a young mother holding a baby, her face desperate and streaked with tears.

The machine gunner’s finger hovered over the trigger, trembling, unable to fire…

His hands shook violently, sweat sliding down his cheek onto the gunstock.

“Fire!” crackled the radio, full of static.

“Sir… those… they… are civilians…”

“Re—peat…!! All units, note—bzzt—fire! Immediate…! Fire!!”

“Cannot—bzzt—stop… cannot stop…! Cannot stop—!!!”

“Absolutely cannot stop… absolutely…”

Orders were law.

The machine gunner gritted his teeth, pain etched on his face.

In the end, he could only close his eyes and pull the trigger…

Rat—

Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat—

A single shot stirred countless waves.

The first bursts of machine-gun fire lit the night, sweeping across the crowd like the scythe of death, instantly felling dozens…

“No…bzzt—stop…”

“Keep moving forward! Hope is just ahead!”

The mother with the baby fell into a pool of blood; her child still cried.

But more people pressed onward, driven by fear and hunger, unable to see they were marching to their deaths…

Behind the civilians, the Temple soldiers coldly pushed these human shields.

A few elders who tried to escape were shot dead, their bodies kicked aside…

The bloody intimidation left the rest with no thought of resistance.

“Damn it, this damn war! Feels suffocating!” yelled a gunner as he loaded shells, angry. “I’ve never done such a rotten job in all my years of service!”

“Suppressing fire! They’re…bzzt—the artillery is… deployed!”

“All firing points, open fire! Coordinates 28…bzzt—451! Heavy…2!8!7!451!”

“No—bzzt—the launcher is…bzzt—”

“Received! Turret two adjusting elevation!” shouted the observer, covering his ears and speaking into the radio.

“Gun position three requests ammo resupply! Damn it! We’re running out!”

“Where the hell did they get this gear?” the assistant gunner coughed through smoke, “It’s even stronger than ours?!”

“Stop talking! Aim! Southwest hill! Another armored car coming up!” The squad leader kicked him, then hoisted an anti-tank rocket launcher…

“Cannot…bzzt—stop… cannot stop…”

“Advance! The future lies ahead—”

Boom—!

Eisenberg’s defenses erupted with terrifying firepower.

Machine guns, mortars, anti-materiel rifles…

Everything roared.