During that time, his 'Noble Knights' had infiltrated other camps and taken down their targets, some of which were now under his control. Their body is controlled by the [Bio Chip], or better call it [Bondservant].
[Bondservant], unlike the normal [Bio Chip] that keeps the mind intact and enhances the host in many ways, the [Bondservant], on the other hand, forcefully destroys the host's mind to occupy and control the body. Its only function is to enslave the host and do Joshua's bidding.
Others, however, have not been so fortunate.
The process was not foolproof, and a few had succumbed to the pain and trauma of the forced integration, their [Bondservant] bodies shattered beyond repair.
Joshua felt a twinge of regret for the loss of those chips, but he knew that in the grand scheme of things, sacrifices had to be made. He had to ensure that if they couldn't be controlled, then expect to be eliminated.
He turned to the trembling women, his expression a mask of calm reassurance.
"You are free to go, but please keep quiet about what happened here," he said, his voice a gentle rumble in the quiet room.
The women looked at him with a mix of shock and disbelief, their bruised wrists and ankles a stark reminder of their recent captivity.
With a wave of his hand, the iron chains fell away, clattering to the floor as if they had never been there. They scrambled off the bed, their eyes darting from the unconscious gaze towards the enigmatic figure before them.
Joshua turned to the puppet, his voice a cool whisper.
"You will rise, Gaze Kreame," he said.
"You will be the herald of a new age for this country."
With those words, Nexus ordered Gaze Kreame to execute the plan as intended. Now nothing more than a shell with Joshua's will, he walked out of the room with a set of instructions.
Gaze Kreame called for an unexpected assembly of his high-ranking officials, his voice echoing through the city's loudspeakers like a siren call that could not be ignored.
---
The next day.
A new announcement will be made by Gaze Kreame to the people of Escalar.
The people of Escalar Country suddenly found themselves in a new dawn, as if something very important was happening.
The whispers grew louder and the anticipation grew with each passing hour.
Gaze Kreame, the feared warlord, called for an assembly and it was broadcast across the country.
The citizens of Escalar gathered around their screens, their eyes glued to the man who had ruled them with fear. But there was something different about him today, something that seemed almost... benevolent?
As the camera zoomed in on Gaze's face, the people saw a man who was once a monster, now speaking with gentle confidence. He announced that the era of fear and chaos was coming to an end. His voice, usually filled with threats and demands, now held a promise of a better future.
"My people of Escalar," Gaze began, his tone uncharacteristically calm.
"You have suffered long under the yolk of tyranny and despair, but today, I stand before you with a new vision."
Joshua, watching the broadcast from the safety of his newfound command center within the compound, felt a sense of pride as he watched his pawn deliver the script he had so meticulously crafted.
"From this day forward, we will rebuild. Schools will be constructed for our children to learn and grow. Hospitals will rise to heal the sick and injured. The strong will protect the weak, and together we will make Escalar great again!"
Gaze declared, his eyes unblinking as he read from the teleprompter.
Joshua had written the speech with precision, each word chosen to resonate with the desperate hope of the citizens. The promise of a brighter future was like a beacon in the dark, drawing people in with the sweetness of hope.
Yet, as the words left Gaze Kreame's lips, they hung in the air, thick with the stench of hypocrisy. The people of Escalar Country had suffered under the weight of his tyranny for too long to simply accept his sudden change of heart. Their expressions remained skeptical, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Joshua knew he had to tread carefully. He had to give the illusion of Gaze's transformation enough time to take root.
The first few days saw an increase in public works projects, with the construction of new schools and medical facilities. The 'Noble Knights' worked tirelessly alongside the locals, their enhanced strength moving earth and stone with astonishing speed. The sight of the strange individuals working alongside the people was a strange one, but it helped to ease the tension.
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However, the swiftness of the changes also brought whispers of suspicion. Some believed that Gaze had truly seen the error of his ways, while others murmured of darker forces at play.
Gaze expanded his projects using his cash and some from Joshua, while Gaze even worked with local people to dig and build foundations during that time.
While Joshua started to build a hidden base and facilities away from public eyes, Gaze Kreame, under his control, was busy with the facade of a benevolent ruler.
The construction of schools and hospitals grew rapidly, with the 'Noble Knights' working alongside local laborers. The sight of these powerful men lifting heavy materials and digging foundations was both awe-inspiring and eerie.
The people of Escalar couldn't help but whisper among themselves, questioning the true intentions behind the sudden turn of events.
The transformation of Escalar Country began swiftly and methodically.
Under the guise of peacekeeping efforts, Joshua implemented a series of 'improvements' that were met with mixed feelings by the local population. He slowly searched and eliminated corrupt officials and soldiers, sending them to jail or even issuing the death penalty to them.
He needed time for the people to accept his Puppet back. If not, he would eliminate the Puppet and reinstate even one of his 'Noble Knights' as the running ruler. But such a move would be further scrutinized by other neighboring nations and the people of Escalar, who are already suspicious of the sudden change.
Joshua knew the true power lay in people's belief and trust. So he devised a plan to offer the orphans and the poor residents of Escalar a chance to rise above their circumstances. The opportunity to become a 'Blood Knight', powerful warriors who would protect the very country that had forsaken them.
There are already 6 'Blood Knights' who offered their loyalty to him. The six girls locked up by the warlord are now transformed into super soldiers serving him.
He had told them they would be compensated and returned to their families, but each one of them shook their heads and chose to stay. Looking at them intently, he could guess why they didn't want to return.
He had made them his eyes and ears as they gathered info and recruited people in this country. Under Nexus plans, they manage to achieve so much more than what a seasoned politician could do in just 6 months.
This further cemented their faith in me as their God. They believe they are my angels, bringing salvation to the world. With their superhuman strength and endurance, they could save this world.
Of course, he made them weaker versions of the 'Blood Knights' as the time was not right, as he still needed to grow quietly. But when the time is right, he would let them reach their full version.
The whispers grew louder in the shadows of the city, rumors of a mysterious force that had infiltrated their lives. Some spoke of a hero from the heavens, while others murmured of an ancient evil seeking to claim the land for itself.
Joshua heard the whispers but chose to ignore them, as he had better things to do.
Facing screens only he could see made by Nexus, he read the reports he had received from the worlds of Di and the Immortal World.
His eyes narrowed as he digested the news.
The second prince's forces had suffered even more defeats, leading to his retreat but not death.
The power struggle within the Long Empire had become a full-blown war, with clans declaring independence and carving out their own territories. It was a chaotic time, and the second prince's grip on the throne was slipping away with every battle lost, which made him happy.
He just hopes his people won't be too affected by this succession war and the emergence of kingdoms.
The Wu Clans also reported on an increase in orphans and refugees traveling to the Sunset Breeze Pass City. Wu Teng offered these refugees and the orphans to join Joshua's Hidden Village, providing them a new place to stay. He stated that with his reputation that the new place would offer them protection and salvation.
The crowds were silent for a while, then a murmur among them started.
All the orphans agreed to the deal as they didn't know where to go, but for the refugees, only a few agreed to stay and join, while the rest went to the Su Empire to start a new life there.
Joshua smiled as his base would have another increase in population as that would mean new workers and soldiers were added to his force.
But for now, his attention was drawn back to the screens, where reports from the Immortal World were flashing.
His eyes narrowed as he read about a new type of wild beast attacking at the base of Immortal World, one that was unlike any they had encountered before.
This creature, dubbed the 'salamander', had not only ravaged the few villages but had also ventured into the hidden base he had made, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Luckily, nothing important was destroyed and only a few doors and cameras were destroyed.
The 'salamander' was reported to be a creature called the Demonic Beast in Immortal World, with a regenerative ability that had never been seen before. Its scales shimmered like molten silver, and its eyes burned with a fierce, almost intelligent malice.
The difference between this Demonic Beast and the wild Beast is that they are smarter from what he can tell, but that would need further study.
He ordered the 'Noble Knights' to capture or kill it and send its gene to Nexus to be added to the gene pool.
The news of the 'salamander' had piqued his interest. If these creatures had a natural healing factor, then their genes could be the key to creating an even more powerful breed of 'Blood Knights'.
The potential was too significant to ignore.
He descended his consciousness into one of his 'Noble Knights', feeling the shift from his own body to the one of his creation.
His vision expanded, the world around him becoming a tapestry of vivid greens and browns as seen through the Knight's eyes. The night was alive with the sounds of creatures stirring, but his Knight's heightened senses filtered them out, focusing solely on the hunt.
There, in the murky waters of a nearby river, the 'salamander' lurked.
It was a strange creature. It had a combination of features of axolotl and crocodile, its long tail swishing lazily as it surveyed its domain. The knight's eyes narrowed, the pupils dilating as the creature's form became clearer in the moonlight.
With a roar that echoed through the night, the 'Noble Knights' charged, the ground shaking beneath its massive boots. The 'salamander's' eyes snapped to the source of the noise, its reptilian gaze locking onto the Knight's.
It remembered these foes as it came across their base and destroyed some of its homes. Now it's time to face revenge.
The 'salamander', with a hiss of fury, reared up from the water, its fiery eyes locked on its pursuers. The creature was massive, its scales glistening with an eerie light that cast dancing shadows across the banks of the river. Its tail lashed the water, sending plumes of mist into the air as it prepared to attack.
In response, the eight 'Noble Knights' surrounding it moved as one, their muscles coiling like springs ready to be unleashed. At Joshua's unspoken command, they launched themselves at the 'salamander' with a coordinated ferocity that was almost beautiful to behold.
Blood Knight is the general term for super soldiers either with [Bio Chip] or MC clone. Blood Wolf Knights are just a term I use previous chapters are more specific type of blood knight. Possibly change or remove.
[Bio Chip] is a offshoot of Nexus(the Main), there is another branch or type called [Bondservant] that is use to enslave. Possibly change and addition of new types.
[VOID] is the MC soul and exist between space and reality. The only access for now is through the [PORTAL]. There are others like [STARS] representing worlds and [BLACKHOLE] a way to go a brand new worlds.
