The 1st Special Infantry Battalion under the command of General Gahiji advanced along two front lines. One with armored vehicles and ground troops, and the other with air support. The helicopters would transport the bipedal tanks for an infiltration above the rebel camp.

Two jumbo helicopters carried a pair of bipedal tanks armed with thermite machine guns, flamethrowers and mini-rockets attached to their shoulders. There would be no prisoners. Gahiji had authorized the use of lethal ammunition.

The air support approached the headquarters of the Ilu Nla Liberation Movement. One of the pilots identified the movement of several people through his night vision.

“General Gaihiji, this is Storm 1. We've identified about a hundred individuals, they're armed and guarding the perimeter.”

“Only a hundred? I expected more. They must be short of manpower.”

“Sir, with all due respect, even for a rebel camp, there are plenty of men patrolling the site.”

“They're sewer rats hiding from their predator, how do you think they live? I'm not surprised, they're trapped. Release the white phosphorus bombs, this will force the mediums to leave. Then trigger the Axé energy sight, prioritize their death.”

The helicopter pilot followed orders. Before he triggered the bombs to drop, his hands shook. He closed his eyes and bit his lips. He knew that when he fired that incendiary weapon, the allotropic form of phosphorus would instantly combust on contact with oxygen.

Those who didn't die from the explosion would die from inhaling the toxic smoke. It would be conducive to the advance of Ilu Nla's Cyber Troop, but at what cost?

Concerned by the pilot's inaction, the co-pilot turned to him and said with a bead of sweat running down his face:

“Officer, sir, we need to follow General Gahiji's orders.”

“Don't rush me!”

After a deep gasp, the pilot dumped the load of white phosphorus bombs. The largest warhead split in mid-air and released sixteen smaller warheads. Like a meteor shower in the night sky, the incendiary bombs hit the ground, causing a huge, pale explosion.

⸎

The light infantry advanced in two wings to the makeshift wall surrounding the camp. Two men guarded the gate made of rusty bars reinforced with zinc sheets.

The commander of the operation signaled with his fingers. They waited for the signal until a large whitish, incandescent column rose into the sky. The targets turned to see what it was and were shot with silenced pistols. The bodies fell to the inside of the wall.

With an electric jack they managed to break down the gate. The commander gave the order:

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“Identify the bodies with a biometric scan.”

The subordinates searched for the bodies and found none.

“What do you mean they weren't found? We killed them and I saw them fall here.”

“Sorry, sir, but they seem to have evaporated.”

“Stop fooling around!”

The commander checked himself with the flashlight on his gun. Neither of the two bodies were there, only the weapons. The man scratched his temper with the barrel of his gun. None of it made any sense.

⸎

Although few in number, the rebels responded to the invaders with fire. The terrain was uneven, with several places to barricade. Gahiji wouldn't waste his time with amateurs. He had already identified a group emitting strong Axé energy. One of them was lying down, emitting so much Axé that he couldn't help but identify him as the young Akachi.

Without missing a beat, in the midst of bombs and gunfire, he crossed the battlefield. Suddenly, he stopped walking. He turned his head away from a shot fired at point-blank range.

“Don't be such a coward, undertaker.”

Before Fadala could escape, he grabbed him by the arm and threw him a distance. The hitman disappeared into the shadows. Gahiji continued walking, and a second time, another opponent attacked him with a sword. Gahiji didn't even bother to dodge, his armor could withstand it.

To his surprise, the sword passed through his body like a ghost. With a slap to his enemy's chest, he pushed him away. Gahiji felt an enormous pain run through his body. He staggered backwards, but didn't collapse. The pain was unbearable.

“It hurts, doesn't it? That's all the pain you've ever inflicted on others.”

“Ekundayo, Sage of Justice⁉ What have you done to me?”

What resistance! This guy is a monster...

“I hit him with the Sword of Life and Death. It doesn't cut his body, but his soul. It produces a wound in your spirit, causing all the feelings of guilt to gush out. If you feel pain, then you still have some humanity left in you.”

Tomp! Fala sprang up and landed a low kick to Gahiji's chin, sending him crashing to the ground. He aimed his two pistols and fired numerous shots at his opponent. The magazines were reloaded and unloaded with such speed that even Ekundayo found it difficult to keep up.

Finally, Fadala threw a hand grenade. There was an explosion followed by a groan. A curtain of dust enveloped the general. Fadala and Ekundayo took their distance.

“Didn't Ilê Apanyan teach you that it's rude to interrupt other people's conversations?”

“Sorry, we assassins don't have time to explain anything.”

As the pair argued, Gahiji felt the pain coursing through his body like his own blood. He looked up at the sky, the smoke already obscuring the stars. The soldier began to remember what his orders were, the oaths he had sworn before the flag of Ilu Nla.

Recovering Akachi was not a choice, it was his mission. His falangettes had been killed for underestimating the enemy's strength. If he had gone himself, he would have killed both the masters of suspicion and recovered the Spiritual Key of Faith. He had to redeem himself before Acting President Ojwang. He had to do justice to the death of his subordinates.

I'm a military man, and a military man follows orders. Yes, no matter what I have to do, I'll take Akachi's head on a silver platter if I have to.

Gahiji's fingers began to move with difficulty. What gave him strength was his obsession. His body began to tremble slightly.

“UARGH!”

Suddenly, he stood up. He raised his fists and activated the cannons on his wrist. He pointed them in the direction of Fadala and Ekundayo. Spheres of Axé energy formed in the mouths of the cannons and a high-pitched sound was emitted. Fadala and the sage looked at each other.

“That's not good...”

“Run!”

The gunman pushed his battle buddy away. The energy spheres were fired, and narrowly missed them. The spheres expanded to the size of a house and consumed everything within a radius of four meters.

The mortician got up from the ground, dusted off the shoulders of his suit. He pulled a herbal cigarette from his pocket and lit it nonchalantly.

“Is that smoking time?”

“What can I do if it calms me down? Where's that friend of yours, Hakim? I'm afraid we're going to need him.”

“I don't know, Fadala. He left well before you arrived and hasn't come back yet.”

“I hope Mr. Mashal's plan works.”

“It would work if your Ofó had worked.”

“It's never my fault that his obsession was greater than the high pain of the Sword of Life and Death.”

Facing them, the colossal General Gahiji of the Phalanx stared at them. His words conveyed a single message: my mission will be accomplished whatever the cost.