War had arrived, just like that.

The long silence was broken by shrill whistles streaking across the sky as countless points of fire rose into the air.

A volley of rockets launched, creating a spectacular scene reminiscent of a meteor shower as a sky full of streaming fire plummeted toward the Government Army’s positions. The Government Army’s anti-air systems retaliated immediately. Interceptor missiles launched into the air, and dozens of close-in weapon systems spat flames. Tens of thousands of scorching bullets sprayed skyward like water from a hose, weaving a dense, impenetrable interception net.

BOOM BOOM BOOM... A large number of rockets were successfully intercepted, exploding in mid-air. However, a few still managed to slip through the net and land within the Government Army’s positions. With deafening detonations, flames erupted, and a deadly heatwave of incinerating winds billowed outward.

Immediately after, the Salvation Army’s drone swarms rose from all directions. They filled the sky, buzzing about like flies drawn to a feast, and surged in a dense cloud toward the Government Army’s positions.

At the same time, the Government Army fired rockets in retaliation. The Salvation Army’s anti-air systems activated. The artillery of both sides collided high in the sky, setting off a continuous chain of explosions. It was impossible to tell how many drones were destroyed in the blasts. For a moment, the sky was filled with blazing fire and smoke. The entire World seemed to be ignited, submerged in a sea of flames.

In a dense forest concealed by a Barrier Array, the hidden Ascender troops looked up at the incessant explosions dotting the sky.

"Quite a show, huh?" A mercenary from the Eastern Continent clicked his tongue in admiration as he smoked. "Back home, they banned firecrackers for the New Year, so I haven’t seen any real fireworks for a few years. This is way more intense, though. Every one of those fireballs costs tens of thousands of US Dollars. Getting to see this makes the whole trip worthwhile."

"Alright, cut the crap. Get ready, the battle’s about to start," reminded an older mercenary beside him who was diligently polishing his longsword, its blade gleaming with a dangerous light.

"Yeah, yeah, I know..." The mercenary stomped out his cigarette butt, materialized a spear, took a small bottle full of red liquid from his pouch, bit the cap off, and poured the crimson liquid over the weapon. Instantly, the spear was wreathed in a red glow; the Enchantment was complete.

"You, from the Eastern Continent. Care for a little competition?" At that moment, a muscular, scantily clad man in a red cape walked over, a Long Spear in his hand.

The mercenary from the Eastern Continent sized him up. His gaze lingered on the Long Spear for a moment before he broke into a grin. "Spartan, what’s the contest?"

"Kill count," the broad-browed Spartan said. "We’ll see who gets more."

"Deal." The Eastern Continent mercenary agreed readily, shouldering his spear. "Don’t come crying to me when you lose."

The Spartan laughed boisterously. "Same to you! Kid, don’t get cocky. Back when I was fighting the Holy See on the battlefields of the Middle East, you were probably still in diapers. Show some respect for your elders."

"Age isn’t everything," the Eastern Continent mercenary chuckled. "We have a saying in the Eastern Continent: ’The new waves push the old, and the old waves die on the shore.’ I’ve lost count of all the ’elders’ who’ve fallen by my hand. Besides, wouldn’t it be even more humiliating for you to lose to your junior?"

"You’re that sure I’ll lose?"

The two went on trash-talking like that until a voice called out.

"Comrades."

The young commander stood atop a large boulder and began to speak calmly. Though only twenty-three, he had earned the respect of the masses and the recognition of several International Mercenary Corps with his iron fist. The slightly raucous camp immediately fell silent, and countless gazes converged on him.

In the silence, he solemnly swept his gaze over every face and began to speak. "Every Salvation Army Warrior here, myself included, is one of the common people.

"Once, we wandered through life in a daze, not knowing why we lived or why we died. We only knew how to work numbly while the elites squeezed us dry, taking every last drop of our blood.

"Once, we endured endless scorn and ridicule. We were branded cowards and good-for-nothings, reduced to slaves at the beck and call of the elites.

"Once, every night, we cursed our own powerlessness. We cursed this sick society, this sick nation, and prayed that someone would come and change it all.

"But now, we will be the ones to change everything!"

His voice rang with power. "Use the Weapons in our hands to shatter this broken system! To upend this unjust world! To make those who treated us as slaves feel Fear! And to build a brand new future!

"From this day forward, we will hold our heads high and live with dignity!"

"DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR!" the Salvation Army’s Ascender Warriors roared in unison, their faces set with grim resolve, their combined voices shaking the heavens.

"And to our friends in the Mercenary Corps."

The commander said, "What lies before you is a pivotal war. The fate of a nation’s government and the future of hundreds of millions of people hang in the balance. I have only one demand—

"—go out there and enjoy a good, satisfying slaughter. And then, bring us victory!"

Appealing to faith and ideals would be useless. As a pack of wild war dogs, what mercenaries valued most was money, glory, and a damn good fight.

"As you wish."

Several of the Mercenary Corps captains laughed, their expressions turning more than a little fanatical at the prospect of the coming war.

"In that case."

The commander paused, his tone growing grim and cold. "Then let it begin."

He drew the sword at his waist, pointing it forward:

"Charge!"

·

The Barrier Array dissolved. Amidst an earth-shaking, mountain-trembling roar, the Ascenders galloped forth.

The Government Army detected the Salvation Army’s Ascenders at once and immediately dispatched elite units to intercept them.

Thanks to Zhou Chen’s prior campaigns of brainwashing and incitement to defection, as well as several subsequent large-scale battles, the Government Army’s Ascender Power was now severely depleted. Therefore, the force sent to intercept the Salvation Army’s Ascenders consisted mainly of Mercenary Corps, supplemented by regular soldiers. However, when equipped with heavy firepower, even an ordinary person had a chance to kill an Ascender.