The Legendary Mechanic, page 378
The Germinal leader led a few of his tribesmen to approach Nest No. 77. They discovered the presence of guards, who stopped them.
After expressing their intentions, the Germinal Tribe established a mental link, connecting with the leader of Nest No. 77.
“I am Germinal, the emissary of Black Star.”
“I am Sulu-Sulu, the leader of New Rock Tribe. Very pleased to be able to communicate with you,” the other party replied immediately, displaying friendliness.
Germinal got excited. “That’s great, you guys have names, too!”
After persuading so many tribes, this was the first tribe that he had met that was named.
Sulu-Sulu was also happy. “We guessed correctly; the world still has other tribes similar to us.”
While there were many tribes within the Subterranean Mutant race, the civilization progression of the New Rock Tribe far outstripped their peers. However, the Germinal Tribe did not understand the meaning within the other leader’s words. The two of them started to converse.
Sulu-Sulu started to describe his tribe’s history to Germinal.
“This place originally had four lairs. Under the lead of our ancestors, we fought fiercely with the other tribes, finally managing to annex the rest and merge them into our New Rock Tribe. This is the place where we live and thrive, but we’ve always believed that there are others of the same species as us in this world. Today, we have finally found our own brethren. This is a major discovery…”
Sulu-Sulu was very excited.
The Germinal leader listened as though he was a fool or drunk. This was the first time that he had heard an epic tale. If Han Xiao was present, he would immediately have known that the civilization of the New Rock Tribe had reached a new level. With the concept of history, they knew how to record past deeds, passing down inheritances and thoughts. Both their abilities and emotional performances were beginning to move away from that of the habit of beasts and transform into intelligent species.
If they had left their development alone, over time, the New Rock Tribe would probably have had the opportunity to unify all the Subterranean Mutants.
When it came to the Germinal leader to speak, he did not forget what Han Xiao had told him and transmitted the meaning of surrendering instead of fighting, as well as the basic information about the universe.
However, not only was Sulu-Sulu not afraid after he had finished talking, he was even enraged. “This is our homeland; we will definitely not leave!”
The news brought by the Germinal leader far outstripped Sulu-Sulu’s expectations. However, their New Rock Tribe had already developed a sort of consciousness toward their homeland. In the face of a mass slaughter, he chose to resist.
Within the mental network, the members of the New Rock Tribe displayed their unity toward the enemy. This gave the Germinal Tribe a shock; they did not understand why the New Rock Tribe members would flare up so because they still did not understand the concept of hate.
“Emissary of Black Star, I thank you for your kind intentions, but we’ve decided to resist to the end!” Sulu-Sulu’s attitude was firm.
In this matter, Han Xiao’s self-acclaimed role played a part. To the Mutants, he was on the good side, there to save them from the evil clutches of the Sunils. As the Emissary of Black Star, the Germinal Tribe was responsible for salvation and had taken it as the mission of their tribe. Thus, Sulu-Sulu did not make things difficult for the Germinal Tribe but rather just sent them away from the New Rock Tribe.
Returning to the temporary camp, the Germinal leader recounted the New Rock Tribe’s lack of intention to surrender.
Herlous had no choice then but to lead the army against the New Rock Tribe. Thirty to forty million enemies was a huge number, almost a hundred times the number of their current forces.
Yet another battle happened. The Sunil soldiers and players had long repeated this till they were numb. The difference was that, for this battle, the opposition of New Rock Tribe was fiercer than all the previous tribes.
…
Tuk tuk tuk!
Hot steel punched through the exoskeletons of the Subterranean Mutants. Blood splashed like blooming red flowers as countless Subterranean Mutants fell on the onslaught. However, the members of the New Rock Tribe seemed as though they were endless, like the tide rushing in.
There was a small team of Sunils responsible for this line of defense. Their fingers were tightly wrapped around the trigger, emptying box after box of ammunition at top speed without caring if their barrels overheated. The ground below them was full of empty metal casings.
Just at this point, an elite Subterranean Mutant, two or three times larger than the average, appeared in the area this team was responsible for. It waved the antennae on its head, and a wave of mental pressure quickly crossed the distance, ignoring the protection of the soldiers’ armor, directly piercing their brains.
“Argh!”
A number of the Sunil soldiers felt as though their brains had been cut with thousands of knives. Blood sprayed from their every orifice, and they felt their vision spin and their bodies lose control. The defensive firepower stopped immediately.
The result was fatal.
The Subterranean Mutants that acted as the vanguard immediately rushed into this line of defense, swamping the team. Their tails and mouth caused dazzling sparks to appear as they clashed with the armor, and the durable armor was quickly ripped apart.
Swoosh!
A dazzling half-moon-shaped razor swept across suddenly, dismembering hundreds of the mutants in half.
Dragging his ten-meter-long Battleship Slicing Blade, Herlous approached the scene quickly and began to force the attackers back, resolving the dangerous situation.
The original team had been almost decimated by the mutants, but reinforcements quickly came up to replace those fallen.
Herlous wiped the blood and sweat from his face, but he had no time to rest. Just as he was about to return to his original position, he subconsciously looked down at the fallen soldiers. Their armor was riddled with wounds, and the soldiers were mostly ripped open, a mockery of their previous forms.
A glance, and Herlous found someone very familiar. His footsteps slowed down, and he looked carefully.
The soldier was covered with blood, his eyes wide and dagger clenched within his hands. He had pierced into one of the mutant bodies, as if he had died together with them. However, his face looked a bit immature.
Herlous suddenly recalled that this deceased soldier had been one of the neighbors back when he was running his bar in the city. His name seemed to be… Lana.
To think that this child would also choose to enlist.
The memories bubbled up like boiling water. Herlous twitched and ruthlessly removed all excess emotions, bellowing as he rushed back into the fray.
…
The first attack from the Subterranean Mutants was finally repelled.
The scale of the New Rock Tribe was too large, and the enemies were endless. Even if a large number of them were slaughtered, the New Rock Tribe did not choose to escape like the other nests but got even more violent, unafraid of death.
The tactics used by the New Rock Tribe varied and took full advantage of them being underground. This was their home field, and they could dig tunnels from above or at the bottom of the underground, directly entering the enemy camp. Through their mental network, the cooperation of the New Rock Tribe was seamless and difficult to predict.
The casualties on the Sunils’ side continued to rise, and even the players died two or three times each. Everyone was exhausted, and Herlous finally decided to make a tactical retreat, returning to their temporary camps.
However, the New Rock Tribe members pursued them all the way, attacking the campsite directly. Herlous led the army to resist for a period of time but was finally unable to withstand the pressure and had to retreat to the surface. They had been forced out of the underground by the New Rock Tribe.
The sun was scorching overhead, and only after they had left the underground did the New Rock Tribe finally stop pursuing. The Subterranean Mutants hated the sun, and many of them were sunburned, so they did not rush to the surface, returning to their nest instead.
The New Rock Tribe had forced the attackers to retreat, and the casualties on both sides were exaggerated.
Because they retreated in a hurry, they did not even manage to retrieve most of their comrades’ corpses. Herlous was in a sullen mood, allowing the troops to rest while they counted the casualties. He then contacted Han Xiao, reporting the situation on his side.
“You’ve been repelled by them?” Han Xiao had a strange look on his face.
“The number of enemies was overwhelming, and we can only slowly clear out their nest by fighting them. However, our casualties will be incalculable…” Herlous gritted his teeth. “Black Star, I wish to utilize the biochemical weapons, preventing more casualties.”
“See to it yourself.” Han Xiao shook his head before cutting off the communication.
Herlous took a deep breath. In his memory floated up the corpse of the young soldier, and he no longer hesitated.
Calling an officer from the Logistics Unit, he gazed at the other party’s blood-covered face and said, “Deploy someone to throw in all the biochemical weapons. Execute it immediately!”
“Understood!” The officer gave a military salute without hesitation.
…
The people of the New Rock Tribe also dragged their exhausted bodies back to the nest and cleared up the battlefield. They stacked up the corpses of their comrades, forming a small hill.
Within the mental network, the tribe members discussed nonstop. The previous battle had a great impact on them, and with the deaths of multiple members, it allowed them to feel even more fear, anger, and desire for revenge. However, they cheered at the same time for their victory as they had managed to repel the enemies and successfully defend their homeland.
Although they had suffered heavy casualties, Sulu-Sulu was full of fighting spirit. His ancestors had passed down the notion that even while the enemy had retreated, they could still attack anytime. If they wished to win, they had to take down the enemy’s ‘nest’.
The Subterranean Mutants then collected the corpses of the Sunil soldiers. An old Subterranean Mutant slowly hobbled out, and the others bowed in greeting.
This Subterranean Mutant was an outlier in the New Rock Tribe, and it could retrieve the memories of the dead. In the entire New Rock Tribe, only this mutant possessed that ability.
If Han Xiao was present, he would have realized that this mutant was a naturally awakened Esper.
The tentacles on its head touched the heads of the Sunil soldiers one by one, and various memory fragments flashed. It quickly organized the information that it wanted and then shared the memory image in the mental network.
It was a picture of Forest City as well as a map of the Planet Sunil.
“The nest of the surface dwellers is on the surface.”
“What a weird nest.”
“The enemies live on the surface. How do we get to them?”
The members of the New Rock Tribe started to debate.
At this moment, a thick fog appeared on the edge of the lair and spread.
Chapter 626. Victory |
Ten or so days later, the expedition force returned to Nest No. 77 again, and the entire tribe had become a region of death with the corpses of Subterranean Mutants littering the underground world.
Even the hardened Sunil soldiers could not help but take deep breaths upon witnessing the hellish scene before them. Many players felt their hearts tremble and could not help but feel pity.
With a solemn mood, Herlous instructed the mining of the Prophecy Stones to begin and all the corpses to be burnt.
They also began searching for the corpses of their deceased brothers.
After cleaning up the New Rock Tribe, the expedition mission did not meet with any further trouble. They continued to battle and persuade the other tribes with little to no trouble.
After a long period of battling, the final Subterranean Mutant tribe surrendered and Herlous returned to Forest City.
…
Outside Forest City, almost all the Sunils had left the city, and they waited in the rain to receive the victorious return of the troops.
Hu!
Ten or so spaceships flew over from afar and landed outside the city.
As the hatch of the spaceship opened, all the Sunil soldiers disembarked from the spaceship wearing their ordinary uniform with fatigue all over their faces. The players were in a better state, and they still looked pretty energetic.
Herlous stepped out of the spaceship and led the troops toward the crowd.
“Hero!”
All of a sudden, the Sunils broke out into a deafening cheer and rushed forward to surround the returning warriors. Their faces were full of agitation, excitement, and gratitude as they welcomed the return of the victorious troops.
Herlous was surrounded by countless individuals, and wherever he looked, he could see gratitude and reverence in their eyes.
The Sunils knew that the Black Star Army had only been willing to help them because of Herlous. In the eyes of all the Sunils, Herlous’ status already exceeded that of the rest; he was the hero and idol of every Sunil.
The crowd cheered loudly and were filled with endless praise toward the expedition forces, including the players.
More accurately speaking, the Sunils were extremely grateful toward the Black Star Army and Han Xiao was like a messiah to them. The prestige of the Black Star Army was also at its peak.
“We are truly extremely grateful to all of you.”
“All of you have saved Sunil!”
“Black Star Army, you are our benefactors.”
The Sunils surrounded the players and showered them with words of gratitude.
Many of the players were taken aback and had an inexplicable sense of accomplishment in their hearts. The mission this time was truly a meaningful one, and their collective effort had changed the fates of the Sunils.
This sense of accomplishment was truly a different experience for many. They felt both satisfied and enriched. This was something completely unrelated to benefits; it was a sense of satisfaction on a spiritual level.
Many of the young soldiers rejoined their families, and the joy of their families wiped away the fatigue of the soldiers, putting a bright smile on all of their faces.
Parents received their children, wives received their husbands, and children received their fathers.
This warm scene unfolded all around.
Every day, the families of the soldiers lived in fear—fear that they would one day receive a notice of death. Now, everything had ended, and there would not be any more war sacrifices.
There was no need to despair or fear. A beautiful tomorrow awaited them.
The darkness had gone, and the Sunils could see the light.
The day for peace and tranquility had finally arrived.
Upon looking at the smiling faces of their people, all the Sunil soldiers felt comfort. Everything that they had done for their people and family was worth it.
However, not everyone was happy.
With a heavy mood and expression, the officers handed the ashes of the deceased soldiers back to their families.
There were some who were filled with disbelief, others argued loudly, and some cried as they hugged the box of ash.
The cries of these families were a stark contrast to the cheering crowd. The light shower also seemed slightly depressing, and the temperature of the morning seemed to have fallen a bit.
Lana’s parents hugged onto his box of ashes and knelt on the ground as though they had lost their souls.
As Herlous saw such a scene, he went forward to help Lana’s parents up and softly said, “He was a truly exemplary man.”
Lana’s parents looked at him and did not say a word.
Upon seeing this, Herlous knew that any words of consolation would be useless. He turned around and walked away silently with his fists clenched tight. The Sunils had been through far too many life and death separations. Thankfully, this would be the last time.
Looking up, Herlous saw Han Xiao standing outside of the crowd with the officers of the army and walked over toward him.
Upon seeing Herlous approaching, Han Xiao said, “It’s finally ended. Only the final step is required for this mission to be completed.”
Herlous looked at Han Xiao and suddenly bowed deeply. “I thank you on behalf of the entire Sunil race.”
“You don’t need to have such a big reaction. I have only fulfilled my promise to you,” Han Xiao said helplessly and raised his arm out to help Herlous up. However, Herlous refused to budge.
“No, let me finish.”
Upon hearing that, Han Xiao allowed Herlous to continue bowing.
Herlous then said slowly, “Your name shall be recorded in the history books of our Sunil race. You are not only the benefactor of our Sunil race but also my benefactor…
“In my eyes, this isn’t just a promise, transaction, or employment. This is a kindness that I will never be able to repay.
“Your Excellency Black Star, from today onward, I am willing to be your blade and follow you to the ends of the universe.”
As those words sounded, all the officers looked at Herlous with many different expressions.
Is he pledging loyalty to me? Han Xiao fell silent for a while before nodding. “Alright.”
Only then did Herlous get up and reveal a smile.
“The price of peace is always filled with blood.” Ginette shook her head.
“I hope that the Sunil race will always remember this war. I hope that all of them will remember what kind of violence we so-called heroes have committed,” Herlous lamented.
“This is natural selection. Every civilization will eventually become demons as they carry history on their backs and carry on their journey,” Han Xiao said casually before looking to the side. The upper echelons of the Sunils walked over, and this time, it was not Otis who spoke to him but the leader of the Sunils.
