CHAPTER 814: MY MERCY HAS LIMITS

"Each soldier is equipped with the best armor and weapons their energy reserves allow them to wield," Overlord declared, his voice echoing across the command center. "They also carry sufficient rations and supplies to sustain themselves for twelve months without any need for resupply."

His words stirred a reaction among the assembled generals and war strategists. Veterans like Grand Marshal Anglius allowed a rare smile to stretch across their otherwise stern faces. Even for superhuman soldiers like the Guardians and the Sages, logistics mattered. While their enhanced biology and refined energy cores reduced their need for rest and nourishment, their powerful bodies still demanded immense caloric and energetic replenishment after every confrontation. After all, a Sage released almost the same energy as a small nuclear reactor.

The supply kits didn’t just contain unique food and water—there were energy crystals included as well, vital for keeping their Soul Dimensions stabilized and in peak condition. Entire armies had perished throughout history not because of enemy weapons, but due to exhaustion, starvation, and exposure to the unforgiving elements. The minds of the Xaos Kingdom had clearly learned from those past mistakes.

Overlord gave everyone a moment to absorb the gravity of those logistical calculations before turning to Vlad, who gave him a small nod. With a subtle signal, Overlord continued.

"Now that the transportation of troops is complete," he said, "we are currently deploying our war machines. As of this moment, we have five hundred thousand Scout Drones en route."

With a wave of his hand, the virtual screen projected a vivid display of the drones still being deployed from Terra. The room grew brighter as the holographic display cast its light over the assembly. The smiles on the faces of the generals widened further.

The Scout Drones had already played a pivotal role during the initial phases of the war. These small, fast-moving machines that mimic the fauna of Exilon had been instrumental in tracking enemy troop movements, gathering tactical data in real time, and even serving as suicide units that detonated with surgical precision, creating openings the Xaos soldiers were quick to exploit. Deploying half a million of them across the enemy continents would allow for comprehensive surveillance and threat assessment before even a single soldier set foot on enemy soil. Traps and ambushes would be rendered useless with such omnipresent recon.

"And in addition," Overlord continued, "we have two thousand Xaos Tanks—designed to withstand the artillery barrages of Sages and wield enough firepower to level a fortified city in minutes. Even a Legendary Tier stronghold would struggle to survive an hour under their assault."

The display shifted once more to reveal towering machines of war—Xaos Tanks—each larger than a building and adorned with dense armor plating layered over sleek propulsion arrays. Though their size suggested sluggishness, they moved across rugged terrain with shocking speed, thanks to their omnidirectional propulsion systems. Capable of traveling at supersonic velocities, these behemoths were not just mobile fortresses—they were unstoppable juggernauts. Their endurance and raw destructive capacity made them nearly untouchable on the battlefield.

The generals watched, awe-struck. The enemy would find little comfort, even behind the strongest force field or in the deepest bunkers.

"And finally..." Overlord paused, allowing silence to fall over the command center. The lights dimmed slightly to enhance the incoming projection. "Let me introduce our latest innovation—the Xaos Sky Fighters."

The holographic projection now displayed what looked like a high-speed aircraft. It had the aerodynamic design of a modern fighter jet, but its speed defied anything seen on Terra before. The projection showed it firing concentrated laser beams, slicing through enemy forces like paper, even targeting elite Sages. But the true revelation came next.

In a breathtaking display, the jet morphed mid-flight into a ten-meter-tall humanoid automaton composed entirely of gleaming metallic alloys. It struck with devastating force, sending a Legendary warrior hurtling across the sky, before seamlessly transforming back into its aircraft form to rain destruction upon the cities below.

A stunned silence settled in the room. The Xaos Kingdom had High-Legend tier automatons guarding Xaos City, but those had been treasures salvaged from the Doomsday World’s battlefields—gifts of luck, not products of creation. What they were now seeing was different. These machines were forged by Xaos hands, designed with purpose and precision. Not only could they fight one-on-one against top-tier enemies, but they also functioned as siege weapons from the sky, offering overwhelming versatility.

"By analyzing the magical matrices and internal composition of the Automatons that Prime Master recovered from the Doomsday World," Overlord explained, "we reverse-engineered their blueprints to create our Xaos Sky Fighters. They’re currently in the final stages of construction, but five should be operational by the time the Scout Drones and Xaos Tanks complete their deployment."

Vlad nodded solemnly. The manufacturing capability of the Xaos Kingdom was unparalleled, with hundreds of thousands of factories working tirelessly under the guidance of the Artificial Intelligence Clone Chip. Still, even he was impressed by the ingenuity and scale of this new creation.

These advanced war machines—Scout Drones, Xaos Tanks, and Sky Fighters—would grant them overwhelming superiority. The tide of war was poised to shift in their favor.

However, as the atmosphere in the command center buzzed with excitement and pride, Vlad’s expression turned somber. He raised a hand, commanding silence. The room immediately quieted.

"There’s one matter that remains unresolved," he said grimly. "What are we going to do about the suicide bombers?"

The shift in energy was palpable. The jubilant atmosphere was extinguished in an instant. Every general, strategist, and advisor in the room fell silent. Even the most experienced war veterans had no ready answer.

No matter how disciplined or powerful the soldiers of Xaos were, they came from a culture that valued life, purity, and the preservation of innocence. They could not be ordered to massacre entire towns filled with men, women, and children, just because they might become a danger in the future.

But ignoring the threat wasn’t an option either.

The people of Exiloon had been brainwashed from birth to revere the Zanis family as divine beings. To them, martyrdom in the name of their gods was not a tragedy—it was salvation. With the right words and psychological triggers, many would gladly sacrifice themselves to kill Xaos soldiers or sabotage their operations.

Those people had to be dealt with—there was no question about it. How could soldiers advance in their conquest and subjugation of an entire continent when every child who approached might secretly be a living bomb, capable of detonating and obliterating them and their comrades in an instant?

To Overlord, the solution had been simple from the very beginning: eliminate everyone. Ruthlessly. Without hesitation. But Vlad had made it crystal clear—that path was not an option. No matter how efficient or expedient it might seem, the Xaos Kingdom would not choose the easy road and transform into the very abomination they fought to avoid becoming. There were lines they would not cross—not out of weakness, but out of principle.

Understanding Vlad’s position, the A.I. Chip Clone had already begun devising strategies to neutralize the horrific explosive blood agent that the Zanis commanders had embedded in the population of Exilion.

"I’ve already retrieved several Exilion soldiers who were caught within the Dome," the A.I. Chip Clone reported, his voice calculated and sharp. "All of them carried the explosive agent within their bloodstream. I’m currently analyzing the compound, studying its structure, and developing a method to neutralize it safely. I’m confident in my abilities—but I will need time."

Vlad allowed himself a brief smile and nodded in appreciation. As brutal and unsettling as the A.I. Chip Clone’s methods could be, the King of Xaos trusted him completely when it came to complex, high-stakes problems. Where others hesitated, the A.I. Chip acted—and always delivered.

Seeing he had Vlad’s attention, Overlord took the opportunity to raise one final and critical issue.

"What are we going to do with the millions of Exilion soldiers who were trapped inside the Dome?"

When the Dome had activated, it instantly incapacitated every Champion-ranked soldier across the continent. They now lay unconscious, scattered in place, rendered harmless—for now.

"They all carry the explosive agent in their blood, don’t they?" one of the high-ranking generals asked, his tone grim.

Overlord nodded. "Yes. If we do nothing, they’ll eventually die. The agent is unstable, and even if it is not triggered, it ensures the subject’s death due to massive organ failure."

The command center fell silent as the weight of that truth settled in. By the established laws of war, once enemy soldiers were captured or rendered harmless, the victorious side bore the responsibility of ensuring their basic well-being. They were to be treated not as enemies, but as prisoners of war—given food, shelter, and medical aid.

But Vlad’s expression grew cold and his voice dropped to a steely edge as he responded.

"My mercy has limits."

He stood, his eyes glowing with ruthless clarity.

"I will not waste precious resources on those who were ready to sacrifice their lives to serve false gods. Gather them all. Every single one. Transport them to Terra and send them to the Obelisk."