Chapter 1603: Chapter 1603

Maria understood that the Zodiacrons were raised and conditioned never to distrust their leaders, much less question them. This loyalty stemmed not from fear but from a society that prized strength and power above all else. Drakogon, Stryphex, and Gravox were icons, idols every Zodiacron aspired to emulate while toiling daily as cogs in the vast machine of their society.

Yet today marked a turning point. The truth emerged when Stryphex captured them and sentenced them to death for refusing to become vessels for the Hive. The revelation deepened when Vyperion presented a video of Drakogon conspiring with the Hive Queen's Daughter, captured through the camera add-ons embedded in his eyes.

"Drakogon has deceived us all, everyone," Quick Hare declared, studying the faces of her fellow Zodiacrons as they grappled with the truth. "I, too, was like you. I refused to believe it until the very end… until Vyperion showed me what he showed you. He's a traitor. He collaborated with the Hive Queen to slay the Ancient Zodiac Beast Heroes, claiming their power for himself. He likely murdered his own brother to achieve this! This war persists because he wills it to, neither wanting us to win nor to lose."

"Exactly. He desires only for us to fight endlessly, to die, and to become sustenance for the Hive. That is his pact with the Hive Queen," Vyperion added. "I know it sounds insane, but you saw the evidence. This entire conflict… it's a lie. Our leader, our god king… is a monster who killed his own family and brother to seize the authority he now wields. He has manipulated our society to ensure we never question his decrees."

"So what if I am a Rabbit? So what if another is a Rat or a Snake? We are all blessed by the same Divine Zodiac Beasts! I have proven that your birth does not define you. What matters is what you achieve, what you do with the body and strength granted at birth!" Quick Hare proclaimed, her voice resonating with maturity and inspiration.

"Drakogon stripped us of our pride. He stole our happiness and the peace we once cherished. Now, he sacrifices our people, transforming us into fodder for the very monsters we were led to believe we've been fighting. Every battle, every war has been orchestrated by him! He has demoralized us, reducing us to cattle blindly following his commands…!"

The Zodiacrons' eyes widened. Quick Hare's voice… instilled a growing confidence, gradually convincing them that another path existed.

As long as she stood with them, her young, inexperienced, yet hopeful and resolute spirit by their side, they could achieve greatness. They could expose Drakogon as the fraud he was and reveal his crimes to the world.

"That's why we will fight. We will unveil the truth to every single person. Everyone deserves to know the monster he truly is!" Quick Hare declared, rising to her feet as dozens of Zodiacrons, all powerful and seasoned warriors, gazed up at the young, fearless rabbit. "We must unite to defeat him and the Hive Queen… Because we Zodiacrons are the proud children of the Divine Zodiac Beasts. We are not food, not cattle, and NOT SLAVES!"

"Way to go, young'un!"

"You say it, Quick Hare!"

The Zodiacrons raised their metallic arms, cheering for Quick Hare, inspired by her words to defy their supreme god king.

"Quick Hare…" Vyperion gasped.

"That was remarkable," Gallotron chuckled. "I never pegged her for a leader, but wow."

"Well said," Maria nodded. "We've molded this girl into a fine leader, haven't we?"

"I agree," Lucifer said, smiling as he gazed at the distant horizon. "Hm?! Maria! Do you feel that?"

"Yes, I just did," Maria replied, as a third crimson eye opened on her forehead. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ ɴovelfire.net

She extended her Aura, enveloping the surroundings, allowing her to perceive everything and comprehend the events unfolding at that moment.

A colossal mothership glided through the planet's skies, accompanied by a smaller spaceship at its side, both advancing toward the Zodiacrons' City.

Simultaneously, a massive army of Zodiacrons, led by Drakogon, Stryphex, and Gravox, approached from the front, heading straight for them.

It was a pincer attack, with both forces aiming to trap them between the two armies.

"Drakogon is coming!" Maria warned.

"W-What?!" Quick Hare gasped. "Why would he do that? Does he already know we're alive?"

"He does," Maria confirmed. "I sensed something earlier. Perhaps one of his minions monitored the spaceship and reported back… Or maybe the Hive Queen sensed her daughter's death and informed Drakogon. Whatever his plan, he's here."

"We're not even prepared yet!"

The Zodiacrons grew restless as Vyperion and Gallotron took flight, scanning the area with their keen eyes and spotting the approaching force.

A vast airborne army of Zodiacrons surged toward them from the city, led by their tallest member, Drakogon, soaring with his immense dragon wings.

"He's already here, damn it!" Vyperion exclaimed.

"We have no choice but to engage! But what's with that army? It's far too large! Did we even have that many soldiers?" Gallotron asked.

"No, we didn't!" Quick Hare replied. "I know why there are so many. Drakogon persuaded civilians to join the fight, convincing them to serve as living shields! Or worse, he's using them as hostages! This is…! How low can he go?! Does he have no shame?! I once thought he was honorable…"

"What do we do then?!"

"We can't fight our own brethren ! He's manipulating them!"

"They aren't even Corrupted Zodiacrons. There are so many civilians!"

"They barely know how to fight. They'll die easily…"

"I can't believe he'd go this far, using the people we swore to protect against us!"

"DRAKOGON!" Quick Hare screamed angrily, echoing the voices of her allies.

"Finally, we find you, traitors!"

Drakogon roared, hovering in midair and spreading his arms, halting his army's advance.

Over a thousand Zodiacrons filled the skies. Only about thirty percent were seasoned warriors, experienced in combat and capable of defending themselves.

The rest? Ordinary civilians from the city: engineers, cooks, blacksmiths, medics, constructors, miners…

People unfit for war, utterly unprepared.

"You finally show your face, Drakogon. It's been a while," Maria said, her Aura surging, shrouding half the sky in darkness, startling the Zodiacrons. "Your true colors are exposed now. I always knew you were despicable, you know? I have a knack for seeing through people, for discerning their true nature… and you, you're tainted. Your soul is as black as night, no… darker."

"Don't heed this invader from another world! Her words are lies meant to deceive us. We must stand united! People of Zodiacron Prime, we cannot let their words manipulate us! We must take them down. The longer we let them speak, the more their deceitful words taint your minds! Just as they corrupted Quick Hare, Vyperion, Gallotron, and their allies!"

"I can't believe you'd do this, Vyperion!"

"Gallotron… as a small Horse Zodiacron, I always admired you… just why?!"

"Quick Hare, was your innocent smile always a façade?!"

"I can't believe someone as young as you dares to defy our god king!"

"What do you hope to achieve by allying with the Hive Queen and bringing her here?!"

"Do you want our city, our last refuge from the outside world, to be destroyed?!"

The city's people confronted Quick Hare and her allies, stunned by the lies fed to them.

They were utterly brainwashed, fed a narrative that was pure nonsense!

Drakogon, above all, was a masterful manipulator and schemer.

Even in this dire situation, he twisted the truth to his advantage!

"W-What?! We're not allied with the Hive! We just destroyed one of their spaceships! Didn't you hear the explosion?!" Quick Hare protested.

"Drakogon is the liar! He's not the god king you were led to believe!" Vyperion supported Quick Hare. "He murdered his older brother and the Zodiac Heroes, seizing power with the Hive Queen's aid! It is HE who betrayed our race! We saw him! He was conspiring with the Hive Queen's Daughter!"

"Do not believe their lies, my brethren! We must remain united and fight together! Stop them at all costs! We must stop them!"

Drakogon gave the people no time to think, leading over a thousand Zodiacrons toward Quick Hare and Maria.

"Damn it, stop attacking me!"

Lucifer became their first target, as laser guns peppered his body with small explosions while sharp mechanical weapons attempted to pierce his scales.

Most weapons shattered instantly, but the Zodiacrons transformed into their beast forms, hundreds at a time, swarming Lucifer.

"I TOLD YOU TO STOP!"