Chapter 576

Gunner watched it all occur silently, noting how effective these suicide troops were. He decided that if any army were to surrender to him in the future, he would use their troops in the same manner for the next empire.

What was that? 'Human life', 'innocent', 'just obeying orders'?

Gunner cared nothing for any that. He didn't even care about the civilians living behind those walls, who had nothing to do with their leaders' decisions. Neither did Darius.

You see, what they needed wasn't even the kingdom itself, merely the land. That's right, they were interested in the entire land of Fallon, so that Darius could expand Safemoon and build his own towns and cities across the entire continent with ease.

As for people?

Couldn't he create his own that would slowly reproduce and fill the place up? It was surely better than trying to integrate these fellows who had their own beliefs, political system, and religions.

So what was being said here? Well, Darius and Gunner would have to resort to plain genocide if they could... the only problem is they 'couldn't'. Such an action would cause too much public outrage, and they would no longer be seen as powerful conquerors, but despicable slaughterers.

They needed to toe the line of public perception.

While Gunner was allowed, even encouraged, to do these cruel things, it would ultimately be attributed to him, the 'cruel' General Gunner, yet he wouldn't go overboard.

As soon as the three hours ended, 500,000 men and women simultaneously stopped where they stood and began screaming like eldritch horrors. They melted on the spot, their solid and powerful bodies turning into red goop slowly as they suffered every bit of pain from dissolving before dying.

This sight, more than anything today or before, chilled onlookers to their core. Even those in charge of Fraterina who had been watching everything from the safety of their walls felt sick to their stomach.

At this time, just one lone cruiser tank was left, faced with around 11 billion troops. The disparity was so great that it was almost funny, yet it actually wasn't. That was because a form rose from the tank and jumped out casually, his 7 foot 2 height making him tower over most people he met so far.

Gunner stretched himself once more, something his two drivers realized preluded a slaughter beyond what they could comprehend. This time though, the half-giant grinned.

"System, play battle theme."

[Now playing: Theme of Broly (DBS) by Takanori Arima // Dragonball FighterZ DLC OST.]

Gunner laughed and jumped up, soaring into the sky above the troops, right into the middle of their formation. He then came down with such force that the entire area caved in, hundreds of lives lost due to the crushing stones that ripped their bodies to shreds.

Those who survived this were blinded by sand initially, but not for long. Gunner jumped out of the pit and stretched his hand out, roaring with crazed laughter as his forearms glowed with a green color.

Earthen Lariat!

Like a train, he charged through the army with both arms outstretched on either side, taking the heads of anyone in his way as the rest of their bodies were turned to bloodmist by the sheer force.

Gunner then turned around and slapped the spear of a soldier who tried to attack him away casually, before he formed a green ball of energy in his palm. He then slapped that green ball into the abdomen of the fellow, pushing his farther back as he flew with the ball into another clearing of enemies before exploding.

Omega Blow!

Gunner raised a leg and stomped on the ground, instantly unbalancing everyone within 12 kilometers around his body, most of them dying right away as the ground below them contorted and shook.

He raised his leg and stomped once again, taking a step forward with each one, making sure that everyone within range was turned into nothingness after five consecutive stomps.

Earthen Stomp!

Gunner realized that the army was trying to give him a wide berth. Their people had deserted, knowing that numbers could not stop a fellow like him. Gunner was about to pull them back when he sensed something.

He turned and raised a hand to block, and a loud clang sound erupted in the aura as a shockwave blew around. Above him and still trying to cut into his flesh with her sword was a beauty with blue hair.

What Gunner noticed was that she was likely at the Master stage given her strength, probably one of the mainstays of the Fraterina kingdom.

"Despicable male beast, I will cut you into pieces for your insubordination to your superiors!" The woman roared in a lovely voice as she began swinging her sword like a hurricane, only the flashes of her blades showing.

Gunner easily blocked each and every strike, his body moving so fast he left afterimages of himself just like the swordswoman. She was shocked by this, never seeing anyone above the Master stage being able to keep up with her Lotus Swordsmanship which was famed for speed over power.

Gunner idly inspected her to see what her power was like.

[Gerria Sears - Level 76 Speedsword

HP: 19,276/19,276 MP: 3,952/3,952 STA: 9,272/9,272]

Hm. Doing the maths, she had 158 Power, 122 Constitution and 52 Magic.

Gunner felt this was interesting, because this was much higher than those Masters who had sieged Andrato previously, yet they had been from better empires than this one.

In other words, this was proof that Vena had indeed increased the power level, yet only subtly for Masters while seemingly not at all for Adepts and below. Perhaps the real change came in the power boost for Grandmasters, which would make the most sense.

Still, he put this aside for later. He slapped the sword of the woman away and clutched her by the neck. Gunner then pulled back his other fist which glowed with a green light, then struck her abdomen heartlessly.

Immediately, her middle body was blown outward, leaving a gaping hole where her stomach used to be, which Gunner's hand was currently punching through.

Earthen Punch!

Her body went limp as she died immediately, Gunner pulling his hand out and tossing her corpse to the side as he gazed at Fraterina's capital city, grinning like a wolf that had found new prey.