The video continued to play.
The Agent was led to the base of the high platform, forced to look up at the 'God' sitting atop it.
A cultist appeared on the right side of the video frame, speaking to the 'God' with extreme excitement and reverence:
'Oh! My Master! Today, I have brought you a new devout follower. I hope you will perform the baptism ceremony for him!'
After he finished speaking, the 'God' on the high platform did not answer immediately.
'Sigh—!'
Instead, it let out a heavy sigh before standing up from its seat and walking slowly down the steps of the platform.
As the 'God' drew closer to the Agent, everyone on the Bridge could see its full appearance more clearly.
It stood about four meters tall.
There were also twenty thick, tentacle-like muscular limbs extending from its back.
It walked down the steps to stand before the Agent, and after a brief silence, spoke in a deep, nasal tone:
'Par... Child, welcome to the ranks of those who'Sing to the Darkness'.'
As it spoke, it used the tentacles on its back to touch the Agent's hands, seemingly completing some sort of religious baptism.
A few seconds later, it said to the Agent again: 'Child, I hope you will not do anything to harm yourself, and also... exercise restraint.'
At this moment, the cultist who had spoken earlier walked up to the Agent and scolded him: 'Why haven't you knelt to thank my Master yet?!'
The camera lowered toward the ground, and the Agent's voice, feigning reverence, came through: 'Thank you for the Master's generosity.'
The video ended.
———————
Inside the Bridge of the fire spirit;
After watching the video sent by the Agent, Mike lit a cigar, took a puff, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke:
'I've lived for half a century and seen many anomalies, but that group of cultists... is truly sickening.'
'I want to know how that Agent is doing,' Carter asked from the side.
Serana clarified: 'The Agent is in good condition and has successfully infiltrated the plaza on the outskirts of the palace, standing by.'
William, however, looked at the screen where the video had finished playing and fell into deep thought.
He felt that the 'God' was somewhat special; it sighed, its tone was restrained, and it even instructed the Agent not to harm himself.
All of this made William feel that it did not seem like an anomaly leading a cult, but rather... forced into it.
A forced anomaly?
William shook his head, temporarily casting this thought out of his mind; the main priority now was to contain it.
He leaned his hands on the central console, looking at the screen that had switched back to a thumbnail of Utah, and asked Mike:
'General, report on the status of the Fleet's combat personnel. After all, we are facing forty thousand cultists this time. If necessary, I will have Andre dispatch the UBCS to assist with containment.'
'Boss, we don't need that guy's help.' Mike took the cigar out of his mouth and revealed a confident face:
'Excluding the two ships, Hades and Ares, at Mars, there are still four warships remaining in Earth's low orbit, with thirteen thousand Marine personnel.'
'Even with a National Guard of one hundred thousand, our Marine Corps can easily handle it, not to mention the fire support from the Fleet.'
'Thirteen thousand... forty thousand...' William murmured, deep in thought for a moment.
Then he asked Serana: 'Serana, is the impact of the anomaly worshipped as a God by the cult on the human mind permanent?'
'According to my monitoring and analysis, after the cultists undergo the so-called 'baptism' ceremony, even if they never have contact with the anomaly again, they still pray devoutly at home.'
'Moreover, once they become cultists, physiological changes occur, and they eventually end up looking like those 'guards' inside the palace.'
'So... Boss, I believe it is a permanent effect,' Serana responded in a low voice.
'Hmm, then there is no need for mercy,' William nodded.
He then left the central console, walked to the porthole, looked down at Earth, and ordered: 'Captain Carter, lead the Fleet to hover in low Earth orbit over Utah.'
'Yes.'
'Lieutenant General ODonahue, you are responsible for assembling and commanding the ground combat forces to round up the cultists in the affected area, while protecting the lives and safety of the general public.'
'Yes.'
'Serana, organize all the data on the cultists so our Marine Corps can effectively distinguish between normal humans and cultists. Also, I leave the US Government to you; have them dispatch the National Guard to blockade Utah.'
'Yes.'
'This is fire spirit Captain Carter; Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon, please accompany us to low Earth orbit over Utah.'
'Notify all Marine Corps units to prepare for combat, and also! Get the Paratroopers ready; they will be the first wave to reach the ground!'
With William's series of orders, the Bridge instantly became busy, making full preparations to successfully contain that 'God' anomaly.
———————
Utah local time: 22:12
Location: fire spirit, a combat readiness bay for the Helljumpers.
This was the combat readiness bay for the fire spirit's 2nd Paratrooper Battalion, Company A, equipped with a large number of weapons, weapon racks, and platforms for changing individual equipment.
At this moment, the 120 Helljumpers of Company A were changing into their combat uniforms in front of their respective lockers.
They put on their respective armor, walked to the platform, helped each other put on their mechanical arms, and finally went to the weapon racks to retrieve their pulse firearms.
Within five minutes.
The 120 Paratroopers were fully dressed and then walked out of the combat readiness bay, moving through the spacious deck corridors of the fire spirit.
Finally, they arrived at a special compartment next to the hangar.
It was clear that nearly a thousand Helljumpers had already gathered here.
And the 'destination' for the Company A Paratroopers was the drop pods they needed to board.
They arrived at the drop pods marked with their respective names and numbers, opened them, stowed their weapons, entered, and closed the hatches.
Immediately after, their Company Commander's roar came through their helmets: 'Paratroopers! Why do we train, train, and train day and night?!'
'To jump into hell first, Officer!' the Paratroopers answered loudly.
'Good, very good.' The Company A Commander smiled with satisfaction and then explained the objective of their mission, saying:
'Company A, our orders are to drop into the palace plaza where the anomaly is located, and cooperate with Company B and Company C to wipe out the cultists on the plaza.'
'Afterward, we will rendezvous with the undercover Agent and charge into the palace to contain the anomaly.'
'Also, according to the intelligence provided by Serana, there are many non-human cultists inside the palace, and their combat capability is unknown.'
'So, absolutely do not be careless; everyone remember that!'
'Yes! Officer!'
'Paratroopers.' At this moment, Serana's smiling voice came over the comms: 'The fire spirit has arrived at the designated location. Drop authorized. Good Luck.'
Company A Commander: 'You all heard the lady! Prepare for boots on the ground!'
'Hoo-rah!'
-------------------------------
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