Chapter 1596 (2/2)

With a hum, the mass of seemingly meaningless cords and rusted metal bars on the Machine Horror’s back sprung into motion. Shuddering, those pieces stretched outward until they formed a pair of tattered, upside-down metal wings. Just as quickly, two more pairs of upside-down wings stretched farther down the Machine Horror’s back. Space around the Machine Horror began to ripple with the faintest sense of true divinity.

The ancient god that DiOrtho had once imagined was now real and furious. When he stepped forward, DiOrtho had to carefully control himself not to slaughter the other recruits with the force of his charge. He felt their images tear slightly from his ferocity, but believed it was a fitting punishment. Besides, his wife wasn’t here to nag him about being too forceful. The bone prison fractured and fell away as the creator’s collapsed with blood leaking from their ears and noses.

But while he was distracted, the woman had shot forward. She thrust her hammer straight outward like a spear, collapsing Charlotte’s chest with the heavy blow. The bear closed her eyes in pain, her image dissipating. A vine snaked out and wrapped around Charlotte’s waist; she had been defeated and the Ghosthound was removing her from contention.

DiOrtho grimaced. Without Charlotte to assist with their recovery, their formation would soon buckle, even if he and Raymund mobilized themselves.

But to his surprise, this wasn’t the end. The grey specter of death shimmered next to the rapidly retreating form of Charlotte and the grey-haired woman suddenly was there, her hammer raised above her head. She brought a blow down toward the defenseless Charlotte, where it was blocked by six thick roots that spun together and batted the attack away.

But the woman dissipated again, appearing once more next to Charlotte. This time, she thrust her heavy hammer directly toward the back of Charlotte’s skull-

“Hey.”

Crack!

“Do you have a fucking deathwish?”

The entire battle stilled as the Ghosthound was suddenly there, holding the shattered wrist of the grey-haired woman. His eyes were so bright that DiOrtho could barely look at him. The grey-haired woman whimpered as strange, ethereal flames sprung out of the Head Drill Sergeant’s skin. Meanwhile, her skin began to black and blister. Somehow, the air in the surrounding space started to swirl inward toward the Ghosthound. He became the focal point on which everything hinged.

“If you want to die, you should have just said so.” The Ghosthound continued. He continued twisting the woman's arm until her legs collapsed out from under her. Then he began to pull on the arm, as though he were curious about the outcome. He didn’t even seem to be trying; not a single bit of definition could be seen on his muscles. He was a child pinning a spider to the ground. That was the absolute difference in their existences. “You had defeated her and I was removing her from the battle. You went for the killing blow after I blocked you. I can only assume that means you’ve made peace with your fate.”

“H-H-H-Head D-Drill Sergeant G-G-Ghosthound!” Suddenly another dozen Drill Sergeants arrived on the scene, a full second behind the Head Drill Sergeant. “Cease this at once! How dare you intervene in the Challenge! I will-”

The Ghosthound looked up with disinterest. He continued pulling on the woman’s arm; DiOrtho could see the joint of her shoulder collapse and the muscles begin to tear. The skin of her forearm continued to burn away. Ashes began to drift down from the portions the Ghosthound was touching. “You appointed me as referee. She attacked with intent to kill, despite the fact her foe was already defeated. Or do you mean to tell me that your recruits weren’t under strict orders not to kill…?”

“That… that is…” The Drill Sergeant that had first spoken hesitated.

Another stepped forward, this time with a harder cast to his eyes. “You go too far, Military Dog.”

DiOrtho felt chills running through his body as he saw the Ghosthound calmly smile over at the Drill Sergeant who challenged him. He had never seen the expression on the Ghosthound’s face before, but it was one he had the utmost familiarity with: that ancient being that recruited DiOrtho only smiled so sweetly before going on a rampage.

DiOrtho glanced over his shoulder at Raymund, who met his eyes; once again, they were thinking the same thing.

“To so casually move a blade to take the life of an ally… she needs to be punished.” The Ghosthound said lightly. He began to twist the arm. His gaze drifted over to the recruits not in the elite squad, who currently were glaring at him with obvious hatred. Their desire to return this humiliation was palpable.

The Ghosthound barred his teeth. “After I finish here, you kids can continue with your games.”

“If you do not release her…” The second Drill Sergeant stepped forward. A rumbling force was rising in his body. The madness in the Ghosthound’s expression grew sharper. His smile widened, releasing even more pressure into the surrounding space.

DiOrtho could see that the woman the Ghosthound held couldn’t even breathe from the weight of his presence. Carbonized flesh drifted down onto the ground beneath her.

Most people present might not recognize the change, but suddenly these individuals were no longer themselves, but representatives of the factions behind them. Military High Command grinned over at the furious Nexus Labor Council. The bad blood between them bubbled and seethed.

DiOrtho could see that the Ghosthound had completely lost his temper when they tried to attack Charlotte and wasn’t willing to back down. Meanwhile, the other side had been waiting for a chance to prove themselves and discredit the Head Drill Sergeant.

Into that space, Raymund Ballast stepped. No one noticed him as he reached out once, twice, three times. Only on the third grab did he manage to steal a portion of that horrifying pressure the Ghosthound released, and DiOrtho didn’t miss the way that Raymund immediately put his grabbing arm behind his back; the act of taking had somehow shattered the bones of his forearm.

But when the pressure eased, everyone looked at Raymund. With his tongue lolling outside of his mouth, the Vulpine grinned. “The elite squad concedes the Challenge. We are very thankful for the veterans’ assistance in teaching us a final lesson before the deployment. Which means we have no more reason to waste time here, correct, Head Drill Sergeant?”