"I know you don't trust she's poisoned, so how about I show this?' Abrax snapped his fingers.
A hologram played showing the reports of a young boy from a big certificate.
Colin recognized the boy. The son of a major architect—he was kidnapped.
The boy was returned the next day and except for a few people, most didn't even know this happened.
However, he died strangely the next week.
The investigation was still going on.
Snap.
Abrax simply snapped and the hologram changed.
It showed the boy undergoing writhing agony before dark and white circles appeared all over his body before he metaled into a puddle of blood and flesh.
Abrax smirked. "This brat's father didn't believe in our words. So, we had to prove our authenticity.
I could've shown the poison on your daughter, but that'd be cruel for her, don't you think?"
Colin stiffened up and nodded like a puppet. "Y-Yes."
Abrax nodded and snapped his fingers again.
The holograms displayed the videos of some boys and girls that were kidnapped in the past.
They returned after the 'payment', but they all died shortly after.
Colin saw each and everyone of them die in the same way.
His heart stirred and he closed his eyes. "Stop! I get it."
Abrax's lips curled up and he said. "I can keep your daughter safe and even dispel the poison. In turn, I need you to do something for me."
Colin's face was conflicted as he found himself torn apart between duty and love.
"I don't like indecisive people." Abrax shook his head and was about to snap again.
"W-Wait! I'll do it! I'll do it!" Colin closed his eyes and yelled.
Abrax's smile brightened. '17 out of 20. I guess it's fine.'
"Alright, the plan is…"
With each word, Colin's eyes grew wider and wider until his knees wobbled and he collapsed on the floor.
This…this was too much.
He couldn't do it.
Colin raised his head and his eyes met the sharp gaze of Abrax.
"You're unwilling? Don't worry, I'm not forcing you." The Abyss prince said with an elegant smile.
It quickly turned into a cold sneer. "Just your daughter…she will go through unbearable pain before she dies. May I add that the best option you have if you obey me is to kill her yourself?"
"No! NO!" Colin clutched his ears and trembled violently.
Abrax softened his voice. "I can guarantee your family safety."
Colin raised his head and looked at Abrax with bloodshot eyes.
"You know it clearly, don't you? The planetoids are bound to fall. Reinforcements aren't coming. Our Sequoias will destroy every human on the battlefield."
Kacha!
Colin clenched his fists. Every word Abrax spoke was the truth.
As one of the highest military officers of Valos, he knew the ground reality.
The planetoids would fall. Then all that was left would be the cluster cities.
Uranus was also in danger.
"You aren't betraying, you just want a better future for your daughter." Abrax said slowly.
"She…she has the protection of level 7s." Colin said weakly. Even he wasn't convinced by his own words.
Abrax discovered his lack of confidence and attacked it. "They? Those bunch of trashes can't even save your daughter from being kidnapped.
You don't know who kidnapped her, do you? A bunch of level 7s. They can't protect her. You will be required to fight, you won't be able to protect her."
"…you're right." Colin hung his head and his conflict finally died down.
'Yeah. I don't want to risk her life. Once the planetoids fall, her safety isn't guaranteed. Even if it is…they can kill her through poison. This is the best opportunity.'
"Prince Abrax, I'll do what you say." Colin swore.
*** *** ***
The soldiers in the military zone didn't know their commander betrayed them.
They were still adjusting to the new reality of imminent war. A few days ago, reinforcements arrived from various planets. But most of them returned.
So, the planetoids had no choice but to ask the Uranus and cluster cities for help.
Thus, Valos city had only 40% of its warriors in the military zone.
In two days, 10% more would join the planetoids.
Despite being only 30% of the original count, the soldiers weren't worried. Cluster cities were known for their defenses.
Before the planetoids were taken down, cluster cities weren't in any danger.
That was the consensus among every expert.
Except one.
*** *** ***
Planetoid RX-23
"Hold! Hold!"
"Down!"
Under scorching heat, five body awakeners covered a heavy black metal slab with chi and dropped it between similar metal slabs.
Boom!
The ground trembled violently. Then without any external intervention, the metal slab sunk a few meters in due to its sheer weight.
"Good job, guys." The voice in their minds congratulated them, causing the five soldiers to heave a sigh of relief.
They looked around and saw many teams similar to them.
After hours of toil, the teams finally placed the black slabs side by side to form a huge wall of height ten meters and length five miles.
As for why they didn't use drones…well, these metal slabs were of a special kind. They were incredibly heavy and needed some sort of aura derivative to be injected to be lighter.
Even then, their weight was very high.
But the reason they still used these slabs was—
"Initiating. Step back." A mechanical voice sounded and the teams moved back.
Shuaa~
With a whistling sound, the black metal slabs began to glow. Then the individual black slabs began to merge and in a matter of minutes, formed a huge black wall.
Right then, hundreds of drones arrived and arranged lethal weapons on top of the wall.
"Testing in a minute. Retreat." A soft voice sounded in their minds and every soldier sprinted a few miles away in a minute.
Boom!
Boom!
Air exploded violently and a man appeared in front of the wall.
The aura he gave off was that of a peak level 6 Controller. Without any delay, he 'heightened' his strength and punched the wall.
Boom!
Boom!
The wall shook violently but not a single crack appeared on its surface.
The man didn't stop and kept punching the wall.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
After five minutes, he stopped and gave a thumbs up to the drones in the sky.
"Haaa~" As the soldiers sighed in relief, the voice in their mind continued.
"Next project."