MADman-Chapter 56: Not good to be Slave

A World in Chains

The earth had been transformed. Within seven hours, humanity had fallen to its knees, and the Zodiac species established dominance. Massive alien fortresses loomed over every major city, their jagged, otherworldly architecture an oppressive reminder of Earth's defeat.

The once blue skies now glowed with a sickly green hue, a result of the Zodiacs altering the atmosphere to better suit their physiology. Humans who survived were divided into two groups: the enslaved majority, forced to toil under the Zodiacs' command, and the "useful few"—those deemed valuable enough to serve in the alien armies.

Among the latter were engineers, scientists, and soldiers whose minds and bodies were augmented to fight for their new overlords. But even they lived under the constant threat of annihilation.

The Prison of Gok

Far away, hidden in the heart of a dying star, Gok was imprisoned. The star's core was a fiery, suffocating inferno, its energy slowly draining him of his strength. Bound by chains forged from alien metals, Gok hung suspended in the void, his devilish form flickering weakly.

Despite his overwhelming power, Gok could do little. The Zodiacs had prepared for his resistance, crafting a prison specifically designed to suppress his abilities.

Even so, his eyes burned with defiance.

"Damn it," he muttered, his voice echoing faintly in the star's core. "This isn't how it ends."

Back on Earth, Kim Hansoo was one of the few who remained free. Along with a small band of resistance fighters, he lived on the run, scavenging for food and shelter in the desolate remains of Seoul.

Hansoo had seen too much. The death of Wu-Ji, the fall of Gok, and the enslavement of his brother Sung Min Ki, who now worked as an engineer for the Zodiacs.

The resistance had no leader, no plan, and no hope—until Hansoo stumbled upon a hidden message left by Gok before his capture.

While scavenging in the ruins of a library, Hansoo found a strange device buried under the rubble. Activating it, he was met with a holographic projection of Gok.

The message was short but powerful:

"If you're seeing this, it means I've failed. But humanity hasn't. There's a way to fight back. Find the fragments of the Infinite Blade. It's the only weapon that can destroy the Zodiacs. And kid... don't give up. The future's still in your hands."

Meanwhile, the Zodiacs' new regime grew stronger. The enslaved humans were forced to mine resources, construct weapons, and maintain the Zodiacs' massive warships. Those who disobeyed or showed signs of rebellion were executed without hesitation.

Polind, the leader of the invasion, addressed the enslaved masses daily, his voice broadcasted across the globe:

"You are nothing but ants beneath our feet. But ants can still be useful. Serve us, and you may live. Resist, and you will be crushed."

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Among the enslaved was Sung Min Ki, who toiled in one of the Z