Chapter 27: Demolishing the Tower (Part I)

The Lighthouse central command hall hosted a council meeting to deliberate on Mark’s fate.

Ran Bing looked at the crowd of unfamiliar senior officials, realizing that the Lighthouse had been completely seized by Charles. Hearing the chorus of mockery and vitriol, she stepped forward firmly and declared, "Let me take Mark to the surface!"

Charles, sitting on the Lord’s throne, raised an eyebrow, his sharp-featured face twisting into an infuriating expression. "Oh? That is possible... but it must be done according to the rules of the Lighthouse!"

Ran Bing was moved—not by anger at Charles, but by renewed shock at Luo Ke’s "prophetic" vision.

"Exile? That is acceptable," Ran Bing replied.

...

The sun rose as usual, its light bathing the aerial fortress, which was teeming with a noisy, turbulent crowd.

"Isn't Captain Mark dead?"
"Is it a rumor? If not, who is that standing there? A ghost?"
"I’m not sure. Some people saw him being pushed into the incinerator with their own eyes."
"Maybe Captain Mark was lucky and woke up the moment he went in?"
"He hasn't reached the age of exile; why is he being sent away?"
"He smashed the Dawn Hall and violated the Three Laws. Exile is already an act of mercy!"

In the corridor, four fire-tenders carrying braziers led the way. Mark, now beast-like, was covered by a massive burlap sheet to conceal his changed, Shifter-like face. Ran Bing stood beside him, her expression filled with heartache. Behind them followed two MU-2 Heavy Units, holding electric halberds; their exquisite red lacquer finish stood in stark contrast to the battered Heavy Units of the Dust Hunters.

Not far ahead lay the exile elevator. Ran Bing gazed at the endless sky, thinking that going down there might actually be a good choice—after all, it was a dream they both shared.

"The exile begins!" the fire-tenders shouted.

Most of the Dust People began to cheer, for in their eyes, exile was a matter of immense pride and glory.

On a high terrace of the Lighthouse, Luo Ke sat on the edge, chewing on a piece of bread. To his right lay a lumpy object covered in burlap.

"Hey! How did a Dust Person get up here? Get down at once!" A city defense soldier passed by the terrace, spotted Luo Ke, and scolded him, approaching with his gun raised.

*Squelch—*

Luo Ke didn't look back; he simply swung his right arm backward. The soldier’s footsteps stopped two meters away as a bone blade pierced his mouth and exited through the back of his skull. Smelling the blood, Luo Ke found his already unpalatable bread even harder to swallow, so he pulled the burlap over and covered the corpse.

His gaze swept over the vast crowd. With a casual glance, he spotted many individuals planted by Charles. They wore helmets and masks, revealing only their eyes, and carried clubs and other weapons. Most tellingly, they were the loudest, fueling the crowd with chants of praise for Mark. They were manipulating the narrative, deliberately stirring up sentiment and inciting conflict.

It had to be said, Charles played the dirty tricks of the old-world politicians with great skill.

"The play begins," Luo Ke whispered.

The procession was blocked by a "Dust Person" who feigned reverence, shouting, "Let us see Captain Mark! He is about to be exiled; we fear we will never see his noble face again!"

"That’s right!"
"Captain Mark is a hero! Why cover him with a cloth?"

Just like that, the narrative was set in motion. The "Dust Person" suddenly lunged at the platform carrying Mark, shoved a caught-off-guard Ran Bing aside, and ripped away the burlap.

Mark, covered in gray leather-like armor and sporting a tail, was exposed to the air. His unhealed wounds and bullet holes were evidence of Charles’s torture.

*Gasp—*

The crowd stood frozen, then recoiled in terror. At that moment, Charles’s agitators began to run through the crowd, spreading panic. Members of the upper-level Light and Shadow Society also began to speak ill, asking how they could grant the highest honor to Captain Mark when he had turned into a Shifter.

The same "Dust Person" continued to rage, pointing at Mark and cursing, "This isn't Captain Mark! He’s a monster! A monster!"

Countless insults drilled into his ears. Mark, already on the verge of a mental breakdown, began to thrash, pulling at the chains binding his limbs. The more violent he became, the more delighted the agitators were, and the more panicked the people grew.

"Who knows what Captain Mark did to incur such a grave sin from the Lord of Light and Shadow!" the Upper People accused, shifting all blame onto Mark.

At this point, a red-robed high official of the Light and Shadow Society shouted from above, "Mark openly violated the Three Laws! His transformation is the punishment of the Lord of Light and Shadow!"

"We should burn him! A sinner like this does not deserve exile!"
"If we do not execute him, the Lord of Light and Shadow will surely vent his wrath upon us!"

Several members of the society added fuel to the fire, causing both Dust People and Upper People to lose their ability to judge for themselves.

"He killed many people in the incineration room! He is a Shifter that devours life!"
"Burn him!"
"Burn him!"
"Burn him!"

The agitators roared in unison, slowly closing in with weapons, trying to ignite the situation completely.

"I’ll let you see just how ugly human nature can be. I hope this makes you truly mature," Luo Ke said, standing up on the terrace and stretching his limbs. "Otherwise, the simple-minded you of the past could never become a true, iron-fisted leader. Brother, I hope you understand my good intentions."

He touched his headset and said in a low voice, "You can prepare now. Follow my orders later. Do not show mercy to anyone who blocks your path."

"Understood."
"Received."

The voices of Mo Cheng, Fei Xue, and others echoed in his headset.

Below, even though she knew of Luo Ke’s plan, Ran Bing was incensed. She couldn't help but shout, "Is this how you treat a former hero? Everything you eat and use, isn't it all because he risked his life below? If it weren't for us Dust Hunters, who would go down to collect supplies?"

The crowd fell silent for a moment, the Dust People visibly shaken. But the calm didn't last; the agitators began their mischief again, rushing out, brandishing weapons at Mark, and some even began to brawl with Ran Bing.

The Light and Shadow Society continued to manipulate the crowd, clouding their judgment. "We survive to this day because of the protection of the Lord of Light and Shadow, not this monster! The Lord of Light and Shadow is our eternal hero!"

The situation spiraled out of control; the procession came to a complete standstill.

*Bang—*

A gunshot rang out. A Dust Person attempting to kill Ran Bing was struck by an electromagnetic round, his head exploding. Charles and the Shadow Slayer appeared on the high platform above.

"No one is to interfere with the exile ceremony," the Shadow Slayer said coldly, retracting the weapon connected to the charging module on her waist.

"Lord Head, Mark’s hands are stained with blood. If we let him go, we will surely be punished by the Lord of Light and Shadow!"
"He must not be allowed to leave! He will not bring truth to the Lighthouse, only disaster!"
"Let him die!"
"Let him die!"

Charles pressed his palms down and said with sanctimonious hypocrisy, "Sending a Shifter down—isn't that letting an enemy return to his lair? Even if the one who became a Shifter is the great Captain Mark, we have the resolve to execute him. Besides, death is the best destination for him! I follow the guidance of the Lord of Light and Shadow and am transferring Captain Mark to the execution pyre!"

Ran Bing felt a wave of dizziness, but the thought of Luo Ke’s promise—"Don't worry, I have everything under control"—brought her a sense of peace. She stroked Mark’s cheek and whispered, "Mark, we must trust Luo Ke. He will lead us toward hope."

Mark was sent to a closer execution pyre, his limbs locked as he knelt helplessly on the ground. He was incredibly weak; without life-source, even moving was a struggle.

"Proceed with the execution—" Charles gave the order with a meaningful look.

Flames rose; Mark struggled and let out a low growl within the fire, his skin beginning to turn red and carbonize.

*Whoosh—*
*Boom—*

A shell fired from high above struck the pyre mechanism, blowing it apart. The flames were extinguished as a massive explosion of fire swept outward, knocking everyone nearby off their feet.

"What?!" Charles’s face turned dark as he snapped his head upward.

On the terrace, Luo Ke shouldered a cannon. A second shell left the barrel, knocking a Heavy Unit right off the side of the Lighthouse, sending a cloud of dust and smoke billowing through the air.

*Huff... huff...*

Luo Ke unsheathed his bone blades and leaped straight down from the terrace. In full view of everyone, he landed heavily on a Heavy Unit, his bone blades piercing through the steel and impaling it.

*Bang!*
*Bang!*

With his left hand, he dealt blow after heavy blow. In the blink of an eye, a perfectly functional Heavy Unit was dismantled into a pile of scrap metal by his bare hands.

He stood with his back to Mark, facing Charles, hundreds of city defense soldiers, and over a dozen Heavy Units alone.

"Begin the operation!"

"And you, Blondie—long time no see!"