58: Don't get me wrong, I'm here to collect my property.

[The wrath of leviathan - Outside the Bridge Doors]

"Sizzle—"

The last wisp of white high-temperature steam dispersed from the door's seams, carrying the pungent, acrid stench unique to molten metal.

That heavy Adamantium gate, carved with reliefs of deep-sea behemoths, had now turned into a piece of twisted, blackened scrap metal, still dripping with molten iron.

Its edges even emitted a faint, dark red glow, as if it had just been fished out of the furnaces of hell.

C-19 stood before the door, in no hurry to take that step.

On his tactical visor, countless red warning runes flickered frantically, intertwining with the dim emergency lighting to dye his field of vision in a bloody hue.

High-energy reaction detected: Bridge Interior

Warning: Self-destruct sequence preheated

Countdown: 03:00

This was not just a numerical countdown; it was the Reaper's final seconds.

"They want to blow up the ship."

N-05 stood on the flank, skillfully loading a new magazine into his Bolter.

The "click" of the magazine snapping into the gun's body was crisp and pleasant; his movements were fluid and mechanical, as if the bloodbath they had fought through to get here didn't exist, serving only as an inconsequential warm-up.

"As expected."

C-19's voice was as steady as a pool of stagnant water, without a single ripple.

"Commander's orders: This ship is an asset of the Empire."

"Assets are not permitted to be destroyed."

He raised his left hand, covered in black Ceramite, and made a "cut-in" gesture.

"Move out."

...[The wrath of leviathan - Bridge]

Admiral Harlock stood before the command console, his hands death-gripping the red self-destruct lever.

His knuckles were white from the strain, his deep blue uniform soaked with cold sweat, and his neat white hair was a mess against his forehead, making him look utterly pathetic.

Around him, dozens of senior staff and operators stared in terror at the steaming door.

The weapons in their hands trembled, their breathing rapid and erratic.

They heard it.

It was the footsteps of the Reaper.

Heavy, slow, and unstoppable. Every step felt like it was treading on their hearts, causing their blood to congeal bit by bit.

Harlock trembled, trying to bolster himself and give a shred of courage to his subordinates who were on the verge of collapse.

"We cannot let these land-dwelling barbarians have the leviathan! We will go down with this ship..."

Boom!

The door collapsed.

It wasn't blown open, but kicked in, along with the doorframe, by a massive black combat boot.

The heavy Adamantium door flew out like a piece of rotten wood, slamming heavily onto the holographic star chart table in the center of the bridge, smashing the expensive crystal table to pieces.

Through the dust, five black giants stepped inside.

They were so tall that they had to duck slightly when entering the bridge to avoid hitting the lintel.

Their pitch-black power armor was riddled with bullet marks and scorch scars—medals of honor from their relentless assault.

Blood dripped from their capes, drawing red trails across the floor like the Reaper's signature.

"Fire!!"

Harlock shrieked, his voice turning sharp and piercing from extreme terror.

The guards on the bridge raised their submachine guns and pistols, desperately pulling their triggers.

Muzzles spat fire, and a dense hail of bullets swept through the doorway like a metal storm.

Clang, clang.

Bullets striking the Ceramite armor were like raindrops hitting a rock, only producing a few feeble sparks and barely leaving a scratch.

C-19 didn't even raise his gun.

He simply strode forward, ignoring the bullets that were as annoying as mosquitoes.

His gaze was locked onto Harlock behind the command console, looking like a lion watching a dying antelope.

A loyal guard rushed forward to try and stop him, raising an electric stun baton to strike C-19's helmet.

C-19 gave a casual swipe.

Crack.

The guard flew out like a ragdoll, smashing into a nearby star chart table; the sound of his spine snapping was clearly audible.

His body twitched a few times on the ground before becoming still, blood gushing from his mouth and nose, staining the floor red.

This was the Astartes.

Before Mortals, they were insurmountable mountains, demigods walking the earth.

Harlock watched the black giant approach, the sense of oppression making him nearly suffocate.

In despair, he closed his eyes and yanked down the self-destruct lever.

"Go to hell!!!"

Click.

The lever reached the bottom.

The sound of the mechanical locking mechanism came through.

But... the expected explosion did not occur.

Even the piercing alarm had vanished.

Harlock was stunned.

He opened his eyes and stared in horror at the screen on the console.

The originally red "Self-Destruct Countdown" had now turned into an eerie field of green code.

That green light was exceptionally blinding in the dim bridge, like the eyes of a ghost.

System Reset... Permissions Overridden... Praise the omnissiah

"This... what is this?"

Harlock slumped onto the command console, the lever slipping from his hand as if all his strength had been drained.

"This is called 'Forced machine spirit Takeover'."

A cold voice rang out above him.

C-19 stood before him, though he hadn't noticed when he arrived.

One of his hands was plugged into the console's data interface; it was a specialized data probe, frantically injecting viral code into the system.

While his other hand gripped the still-dripping Chainsword, its blade only centimeters away from Harlock's neck... [Holographic Operations Cabin]

Li Cang nodded in satisfaction as the screen displayed "Control Acquired."

As early as when the Astartes broke into Sector C, C-19's data probe had already physically interfaced with the warship's internal network.

The electronic warfare technology of the Pan-Pacific Empire, when faced with the Adeptus Mechanicus—who possessed the remnants of the Golden Age—was like an abacus against a supercomputer: fragile and easily broken.

"Don't kill him."

Li Cang looked at the trembling old man on the screen and issued an order.

"His mind contains the Pan-Pacific Empire's sea charts and the coordinates of those hidden bases."

"Moreover, a living person is better than a corpse for crushing enemy morale. Turn him into our trophy and display him for all to see."

...[leviathan - Bridge]

C-19 received the order.

He retracted the Chainsword, its rows of hideous teeth flashing before Harlock's eyes, making him shudder involuntarily.

Harlock looked at the giant before him and tremblingly drew the ceremonial shortsword from his waist.

It was an exquisite dagger inlaid with gems, symbolizing his status and honor.

"I am a noble! I have the right to demand a dignified duel!"

He roared, trying to use this last shred of dignity to mask the fear in his heart.

C-19's tactical visor flickered. He seemed to be contemplating the meaning of the word.

Duel?

That was something between two warriors.

It was a clash of honor, a gamble of life and death.

And now, there was only a fully armed Astartes and a weak enemy to be processed.

"Denied."

C-19 reached out, his massive hand covered in Ceramite armor casually gripping Harlock's sword-wielding wrist.

Snap.

The sound of the wrist shattering was clearly audible. Bone pierced skin, exposing white fragments to the air.

The shortsword fell to the ground with a sharp clang.

"Ah—!!!"

Harlock let out a shrill scream, his entire body curling up in pain.

C-19 ignored his screams.

With his other hand, he grabbed the back of Harlock's neck, lifting him up like a small chick.

He walked to the shattered porthole and suspended the once-arrogant Admiral in mid-air, dozens of meters up.

Cold wind howled into the bridge, messing up Harlock's hair. He opened his eyes and saw the scene below.

Devastation everywhere.

The Pan-Pacific Empire's army was in full retreat.

Those once-mighty land cruisers were now either burning or stalled, turned into piles of scrap metal.

Countless soldiers discarded their armor and fled across the wasteland, only to be ruthlessly crushed by the pursuing Rhino Tanks.

"Look."

C-19's voice was bone-chilling, echoing in the wind.

"This is your Empire."

"Fragile. Inefficient. Pathetic."

Harlock looked at the carnage below, and the light in his eyes completely died out.

His pride and his dignity, along with his fleet, had been utterly crushed by this group of black Reapers.

He stopped struggling, his head drooping like a corpse.

"Take him away."

C-19 tossed Harlock to N-05 behind him.

"Lock him in the brig. Have a Tech-Priest extract his memories."

Then, he turned to look at the main control screen in the center of the bridge, which had already turned green.

His fingers tapped on the keyboard a few times with practiced precision.

Broadcast System: All-frequency open

C-19 took a deep breath and, into the microphone, announced the final verdict to the entire battlefield—to all the Pan-Pacific soldiers still resisting or fleeing.

"I am a Captain of the First Legion."

"This ship has been requisitioned."

"Everyone, lay down your weapons and surrender on your knees."

"Otherwise..."

"This will be your end."

He raised his hand and fired a shot, blowing apart the golden lion statue on the command console that symbolized the Pan-Pacific royal family.

Bang!

The gunshot echoed across the entire wasteland through the broadcast.

The battlefield went silent.

Even the deserters who had fled the furthest stopped in their tracks.

They looked back at the giant ship, now flying the black Double-headed Eagle Banner, and desperately dropped their guns... [Holographic Operations Cabin - Settlement Screen]

Battle Concluded: leviathan Siege

Result: Decisive Victory

Strategic Asset Acquired: 'wrath of leviathan' Land Carrier (Moderately Damaged/Repairable)

Enemy Faction Status: Pan-Pacific Empire (Terra Expeditionary Force) Annihilated

Time until Strike Cruiser completion: 00:15:00

Li Cang looked at the countdown nearing zero, then at the Land Carrier on the screen—still majestic despite the smoke.

"Strategic Value Assessment: Extremely High."

This wave didn't just defend the home base; it also captured a "mobile base." It was a perfect example of sustaining war through war.

"C-19."

Li Cang's voice carried a hint of ease.

"Leave this scrap ship be; let the Mortals repair it."

"Take your brothers and return to the Hive City."

"Our 'big ship'... is almost ready."

"The true journey begins now."