anwhile, on another part of the dreadnought Taurus Pri, the Alpha Squad was continuously moving toward the center of the vessel, where their mission objective—the Power Generation Units—was situated.
They were currently locked in a small engagent, having surrounded a group of Minotaurs in the middle of a corridor that split into three different directions.
These Minotaurs were moving away from the generation room. The group’s composition was unusual: at the very center were several unard, lean-figured Minotaurs, not built like the warriors of their race. They were surrounded and heavily protected by a few dozen heavily ard Minotaur warriors.
The Minotaurs, who were desperately trying to fight back against this sudden adversary that had appeared out of thin air, were already gripped by terror. Alarm bells were ringing in their minds as they began to fall like flies to the attack.
"Pew! Pew! Pew!"
The corridor we’re filled with the sound of plasma and laser weapons.
The Minotaur warriors attempted to return fire with their energy weapons, while others charged toward the Alpha Squad mbers with their cold weapons. However, both types of counter-attack were utterly ineffective.
The charge was halted before it could even begin; any Minotaur warrior with a lee weapon was pierced by multiple energy attacks before taking two steps, vaporizing in an instant like paper consud by fire, not even leaving ashes behind.
The unard Minotaurs at the core of the group were so frightened that they were screaming through their lungs, attempting to alert every Minotaur in the surrounding area.
But they didn’t know that all their efforts—the charges, the energy fire, and the desperate screaming—were ineffective.
The Minotaurs’ desperate screams were useless because the area was surrounded by a Sound Barrier, ensuring no noise left the periter.
This barrier was the creation of Lieutenant Jaxson, who was manipulating the surrounding energy surge—a phenonon likely caused by the proximity of the Power Generation Units.
Jaxson’s class granted him the ability to manipulate ambient energy to a certain extent, allowing him to create structures like the Sound Barrier. This raised the question of why Jaxson could use his abilities while the other Void Marines were strictly prohibited from doing so.
The reason was critical: other Marines would need to use their own internal Mana to utilize their abilities. The mont they manifested this Mana, they would be noticed by the many Minotaurs on the ship who could sense Mana movent with their spiritual senses, especially those in the Paragon realm and higher.
Jaxson, however, was not using his own Mana or even Mana in the surroundings. He was utilizing the charged energy particles that were already surging in the surrounding area due to the proximity of the power source, manipulating them to create the barrier.
This technique would not attract any attention at all. No one would perceive anything, even if they tried, which they certainly wouldn’t do now. Currently, all strong Minotaurs had their eyes and senses focused on the large-scale fleet battle ahead, not the internal situation of their ships.
Back in the sound-proofed periter, the small battle raged.
A few of the surviving Minotaur warriors, controlling their panic, frantically demanded answers: "Who are you? How can you be here? And why are you attacking us!"
One particularly delusional Minotaur specialist, however, resorted to threats. "You cowards! Reveal yourselves in this instant, or you will pay the price for it!" He proceeded to wave a device in his hand, shaped like a bulky tablet. "Or I’ll have you all run over by my fellows who fill this ship! Stop now, and you will die quickly; otherwise, otherwise..."
Before he could complete his sentence, his head was pierced by a red plasma bolt, and another struck his chest. In a re second, he was utterly wiped out of existence.
A commanding voice, amplified and chilling, then rang in the ears of all the Minotaurs who were still alive, causing each of them to shiver: "Huh! Like that would work! Your threats an nothing to us, and it’s not like your device will work anyway! Guys, hurry up and take them down!"
That commanding voice belonged to none other than Jaxson. Hearing his order, his team instantly increased the intensity of their attack. Several Marines jumped forward for closer-quarters engagent, slashing left and right, up and down.
With each swift slash of their cold energy weapons, another Minotaur fell. Simultaneously, from the rear, other Marines provided cover fire, beams of plasma being precisely fired to support the lee fighters.
With this renewed efficiency, the Minotaurs, already at a massive disadvantage, beca even more terrified. Their screams increased by several levels. So began pleading for rcy, while others, losing all their sanity, entered a frantic, uncontrollable state.
This was the Minotaur race’s Rage State—a trait they often capitalized on in war. However, in its higher stages, the Minotaurs lose all will and beco killing machines. Friendly fire becos common, stopping only when they are dead or utterly exhausted.
In this mont of terror, several Minotaurs fell into this uncontrolled fury, launching frantic attacks at the Alpha Squad and even killing their own comrades in their blind rage.
Only a few noble individuals within the entire Minotaur race were known to be able to control themselves in the heightened state of rage, a state that increased their strength by several folds—twice that of the first level.
Currently, a few Minotaurs had entered this Level Two Rage State. Despite the ongoing battle, one Marine couldn’t help but mutter internally while clashing against a Rager who, unlike others, was able to successfully defend itself.
Currently, a few Minotaurs had entered this Level Two Rage State. Despite the ongoing battle, one Marine couldn’t help but mutter internally while clashing against a Rager who, unlike others, was able to successfully defend itself.
"Indeed, reports were right," the Marine thought. "This state does provide them with greater strength, though the control is lacking."
The Marine tilted his energy sword at a sharp angle, deftly deflecting the Minotaur’s dual-handed, double-bladed sword, which struck the corridor floor with a loud clang. The Marine side-stepped, his hand clenching as a red light covered his fist. He then punched the Minotaur directly in the abdon—a vital point exposed when the Minotaur was shaken by the force of its own deflected sword hitting the floor.
The punch landed with a "Boom!" The Minotaur was thrown backward, colliding with others in the rear, its body instantly burning and turning to ashes until nothing was left.
Another Marine nearby was engaging a different Level Two Rager. He deliberately deflected an axe attack, letting the weapon slice into one of the Minotaur’s own comrades. Continuing his montum, the Marine cut the Rager in half and proceeded to engage another one. He mused, "Indeed, their strength has increased by a large margin, but the control is nowhere near sufficient. That makes it a bit easier for us, no?"
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