Around the temple hall.
They were the Gray Knights wearing the same gray uniforms, or wearing protective gear for training, watching the newcomers take the oath.
Among them, six servants of God who have prosthetic limbs to replace their broken arms and legs and are over three meters tall will become the mentors of these newcomers after the oath-taking ceremony.
"very good!"
At this time, Artemis, who was leading the twenty newcomers to finish the declaration, stopped pacing, looked down at them who were about to become members of the Gray Knights, and said the last question:
"Then tell me! Who are you?!"
The loud voice echoed throughout the temple hall.
The newcomers who heard the inquiry stood up one after another, held high the Nemesis Power Halberd, and shouted at the top of their lungs:
"We are nightmares in another space, hunters of demons, and gray knights who sweep away monsters for our father!"
It took a long time for the echo of the roar to stop in the hall.
The oath-taking ceremony is completed.
The six servants of the gods led the new members towards the outside of the temple, and Artemis and the surrounding Gray Knights also left together. .
The newlyweds will be baptized by the water of the full moon. Afterwards, the servants of the gods will teach them about various types of demons and receive physical skills taught by the servants of the gods themselves.
Artemis and the others left the temple and walked through the square with marble pillars on both sides and came to a building that looked similar to the Roman Colosseum but was twice the size.
There is no spectator stand occupying space here, but only a training ground covered with fine sand.
Completely into the training ground.
The Gray Knights, numbering less than 600 in total, scattered and took down the special protective gear designed for them and the melee weapons for training purposes from the metal racks at the edge of the field.
Immediately afterwards, the Gray Knights began the most traditional simulated "competition" of 1 vs. 1, 2 vs. 2, or 1, 2 vs. many...
It's the kind where ordinary people are destined to die if they participate.
Not only is the attack speed unobservable to ordinary people, but there are also psychic suppression and impacts from time to time. Fortunately, psychic attacks such as lightning and fire are also prohibited by order.
This is also the reason why the Astartes will not participate in the actual combat exercises of the UNSC, Auxiliary Forces and Krieg.
In fact, Umbrella has very advanced virtual reality, that is, VR technology.
The most common products for civilian use should be fully immersive viewing and gaming equipment, as well as online games for social purposes.
In military terms, it is used for simulation training.
But Artemis, who is the chief instructor of the Gray Knights and also has the title of "Goddess of War" among her many titles, prefers this type of traditional training to maintain her health when she does not receive support from hunting and expelling demons. The Gray Knights at their best.
Use real attacks, contact and pain to find out the weaknesses between brothers, improve each other, and improve their understanding.
In the afternoon, Artemis will discuss with the Gray Knights and study tactics against various demons.
When the time comes at night on Titan, the Gray Knights, who have finished bathing in the water of the full moon, have some free time to rest properly or continue to discuss tactics.
From late night to early morning, there will be four hours of sleep time.
The general public and military fans are very curious about the Astartes' daily schedule and whether they need to eat or sleep. After all, Umbrella will not publish such information.
But in fact, although the Astartes are transcendent mortal beings, they still need to eat and sleep when there is no war or emergency mission.
In order to maintain the best condition of their physiological functions, their food intake is much higher than that of ordinary people, and they also need to consume enough special "metal powder".
Adult Astartes who have completed twenty-five surgeries have a ganglion called "Capson" implanted in their brains, allowing them to control themselves to quickly fall into deep or light sleep, and even meditate to recover. energy.
During the war and when performing missions, the Astartes could continue to fight without sleep, and the "stomach acid" produced by corrosive glands could use almost anything as food.
However, after the war, the Astartes also needed repairs.
Although they are different from the normal legion, the daily routine of the Gray Knights is not much different from that of the legion brothers.
now.
Artemis was walking slowly through the training ground, sometimes speaking in a stern tone;
"Colette, watch your right side! How many times have I reminded you."
"Ran Min, the style that suits you best is to move forward courageously, rather than to defend and counterattack."
"Sigis! Your..."
Normally, she would use words to point out and improve the Gray Knights' offensive and defensive flaws.
Of course, sometimes you can't just talk, she will also provide hands-on guidance.
Many recruits who were selected to join the Gray Knights when they had just reached adulthood would inevitably feel a little contempt in their hearts when they saw that their chief instructor was the "thin" and "slender" Artemis.
It wasn't until Artemis personally taught and demonstrated physical skills, and knocked them down with extreme speed and absolute power, that the recruits realized that the title of goddess of hunting was not for nothing.
Near noon on Titan.
The Gray Knights, who had finished their regular training, were ready to take a proper rest before heading to the cafeteria.
As for Artemis, who has been "humanized", although her body does not need to replenish the so-called calories, nutrients and water, most of the time, she will go to the cafeteria to eat with the Gray Knights.
Only this time, a civilian soldier responsible for assisting the Gray Knights came to the training ground and saluted her:
"Sir, the chairman will hold a video conference with you in fifteen minutes."
"Video conference? Okay, I understand, you go ahead and do your work."
"Yes, sir."
After finishing the conversation with the civilian soldier, Artemis separated from the crowd and walked to the office building on the east side of the base, and finally came to her exclusive office.
Immediately afterwards, she called up the holographic screen to join the designated channel, straightened her hair and clothes, and waited patiently to ensure that her appearance was in good condition.
Didn't have to wait long.
The holographic device in the office imaged Sui Bian dressed in black uniform, and said to her: "Artemis, the company's supervision department is going to launch a hunting operation against low- and medium-threat demons. Sit tight and carry out the operation at all times." Preparation for support.”
"Hunting?" Artemis was stunned.
Without waiting for her to ask why, Sui Bian continued: "After the Arcadia incident, those young people who wandered between different spaces and the physical universe have actually noticed the existence of human beings.
Moreover, the current counterattack expedition is coming to an end. The Sangheili family will continue to deal with the remnants of the Covenant Empire for us, giving us time to recuperate.
So, it's time to get rid of those little ones. "
"Understood." Artemis nodded lightly and said, "I will make the Gray Knights prepare to hunt down those ugly guys."
"Also." Sui Bian added: "The three stealth-class warships built by the Zhiyuan Star Shipyard are about to be completed and will be sent to your Titan."
"Thank you, boss." Artemis thanked with a chuckle.
"Well, then I'll leave it to you, the goddess of hunting, to support the supervision department."
"Do not worry."
"Okay." After saying that, Sui Bian took the initiative to dissipate the image, allowing Artemis' office to return to peace.
"..." She fell into silence thoughtfully.
After some time, he muttered to himself: "Hunting? I don't know what his strength is now, and when he will be able to enter another space."
Although Artemis no longer resents the Olympian gods and the fall of her father Zeus, her hatred of other dimensions is more than enough.
But Artemis knew that with her strength, no matter whether she still possessed psychic powers (divine power) or not, once she entered a different space, the result would be death.
That's why she pinned her hope of revenge for her father on Sui Bian.
Relaxed my mood.
Instead of dwelling on the past, Artemis sat behind her desk, then brought up the holographic screen and used her authority to detect the recent actions of the Supervision Department.
———————
…
Not long after the video conference ended.
Located below Raccoon City, it is also the "hometown" where Sui Bian controls the entire Umbrella, the three underground floors of the Mother's Nest.
There are nearly two hundred researchers in white coats in the proving ground of one of the high-tech research and development zones.
This group of scholars, who represent the most cutting-edge in various fields of humankind, are gathering in the center of the venue.
There is Wang Zhaofeng, who still has a "Mediterranean" hairstyle, and William Birken, whose hairstyle is messed up and unruly.
There are also Birken's colleague Ziegler Cage, and Rebecca and Alexia who are responsible for educating the Astartes recruits.
The only special researcher is the plague doctor who wears a hood and a beak mask.
Surrounded by them, the alternative "experts" responsible for answering various questions are memory storage bodies recovered by Leon and Magnus.
outside the crowd.
To maintain the security of the site, some of the elite security personnel equipped with TPS power armor and laser rifles are security guards from Rockford Island, led by Jack Krauser.
Further outside, there were Sui Bian and his two secretaries, quietly watching the people engaged in heated discussions.
Now, as he said to Artemis, the "counterattack expedition" that lasted for more than ten days was coming to an end.
The five mixed fleets led by Robert and John only captured fourteen star systems on the edge of human territory, serving as a buffer zone during the expedition.
According to Sui Bian's consistent behavior, as long as he "sees" "things" that are beneficial to the company and mankind, he will possess and plunder them without hesitation.
If it cannot be obtained, Sui Bian would rather destroy it.
In terms of occupying more territory, Sui Bian was more than capable. After all, the current total population of mankind has not yet exceeded the 100 billion mark, only more than 90 billion.
It sounds like a lot, but before contact with the Covenant Empire, 45% of the universe within the sphere of influence possessed by humans was still uncolonized and mined.
Even the original power could not be completely digested, and now it is "forced" to expand its territory. It has actually reached the limit that humans can absorb, otherwise the population will be too sparsely spread.
So just give it up.
Robert and John's strategic policy changed from initial occupation to guerrilla warfare. They relied on the information provided by the City of Charity and specifically targeted the galaxies that had exported various materials and warships to the Covenant Empire to carry out devastating destruction.
Of course, this move also aroused the last loyalists of the Covenant Empire. The total number of warships remained nearly 5,000, and the combined fleet originally escorted the City of Charity to pursue and suppress them.
The Jiralhanae responsible for commanding the combined fleet were placed in the command hierarchy by the Prophet and the three priests, and their loyalty was much more stable than those Jiralhanae who took the opportunity to become warlords.
They also saw that humans had taken away the City of Charity under their noses. In order to save the rule of the Covenant Empire and to avenge their shame, they pursued the five mixed fleets.
The Primarchs responded immediately.
The mixed fleet led by John and Russ acted as a decoy, actively exposed their whereabouts, and appeared within the gravitational range of a planet similar to the Covenant Arsenal.
When the vengeful United Fleet came to encircle and suppress them, Robert, Angron and Sanguinius, who had been waiting outside the galaxy for a long time, immediately used jump navigation to complete the encirclement of the United Fleet that was five times their size.
Compared to the one to three battle between the Punishment and Moore's fleet, the situation should be more severe.
but……
The Punishment is just a Paris-class frigate, and Gabriel and other reservists are equipped with ceramic armor.
Taking advantage of the enemy's brief panic due to the surprise attack, the Primarchs directly launched a volley of electromagnetic main cannon fire.
Thousands of 3-ton, 5-ton, and even 25-ton projectiles emit a very representative blue light trajectory, "shining" among the Jiralhanae's combined fleet.
Especially when used as flagships by Jiralhanae, dozens of super aircraft carriers with a length of more than 30 kilometers have become the primary targets of projectile fire attacks.
What followed were plasma secondary cannons of various calibers.
Moreover, as the battleships began to shoot at each other, and the situation was in extreme chaos, the carrier-based aircraft formation led by the two gods escorted the two primarchs and the Thunder transport aircraft aboard the Astartes, and headed towards the sixteen ships. Losing shield protection, the "door is open" super aircraft carrier rushed forward.
During this period.
The divine body of Sanguinius flapped its flawless white wings like an angel, "swimming" in the universe of silent and fierce battles.
at the same time.
With the physical amplification provided by the God's body, and without the psychic suppression from the Flood, Sanguinius directly released a special psychic barrier that was enough to cover and protect the entire formation.
Based on the analysis of the video data of the battle, it can be known that this kind of God's body acts as an amplifier, and the psychic barrier released is composed of countless "◇" diamond-shaped blocks that emit dazzling golden light.
And it's not just the "shield" that discovers the golden light, but also the psychic arrows shot from the hunting bow, whose maximum power is no less than a 5-ton electromagnetic gun.
Compared to his younger brother's outstanding performance, the body of God driven by John seemed "mediocre".
It has not grown wings that violate common sense and rules. Its back is powered by a nuclear fusion engine. There are nozzles in the gaps between the outer armor and joints, which are used to adjust its posture and direction in a weightless vacuum environment.
But combined with the spear of terror that once belonged to Ares, the god of war, and the caliber of a naval gun, it is also a plasma "rifle" powered by the nuclear fusion engine on the back...
John and Sanguinius destroyed everything that tried to block them along the way, creating an excellent opportunity for the Thunder formation to jump into gangs and plunder.
