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墨書 Inktalez
Xiong Tai's desperate struggle invigorated the spirits of the other elites in the association, like the momentum of a killing god sweeping through the ranks of the military in perfect unison.
The blows suffered by the Northern Lands had not yet reached catastrophic levels; they were still under a yellow alert, thanks to the effective organization and strikes from several associations. In this moment, unity was paramount; no one wanted to let other associations serve as cannon fodder. Such a naive calculation had no place here.
If disputes over profit distribution were to hinder their efforts, it would be utterly meaningless. Moreover, issues of profit could be addressed later to maximize benefits. The current situation was unstable, and humanity could only maintain a balance against the Zerg by barely sticking together.
This was all a result of humanity's high morale. Otherwise, they might soon find themselves wiped out by the Zerg.
Meanwhile, on another front of the association, many teams formed to help each other, united for a common goal: maximizing profit distribution. Forming alliances was the best choice at this moment. With so many participants, nearly every team wanted to avoid being isolated in this battle. Even if the association attempted to impose control or restrictions midway, it would be impossible.
"Hey, do you remember our agreement?" A voice rang out.
The voice was familiar. Freyr turned around and felt a slight stir in his heart. "It's you. I remember our prior agreement with your team. Are you really bringing this up at such a critical moment?"
"Yes, past missions were just missions—how much profit could we really make? But now, in this battle, we can maximize our gains. Do you remember our agreement? Are you planning to breach it? You know what happens when agreements are broken, right?" He turned to find a seductive woman—Meng Luo.
"I know what it feels like to be Pierced by Ten Thousand Arrows," Freyr replied with a smile.
"So you'd rather die than ally with us? Or are you just scared, you filthy man?" Meng Luo shot back.
"First of all, I'm not scared. Secondly, how do I know you won't betray us?" Freyr countered.
"I guarantee with my integrity that we will ally openly and honestly. If anyone has any ulterior motives during this alliance, they will suffer the consequences of being Pierced by Ten Thousand Arrows. Does that sound fair?" Meng Luo continued.
"Well then, okay. If you're willing to go that far," Freyr said, feeling somewhat guilty for his hesitation.
After some time, the alliance envoy approached them.
Thus, their two teams officially formed an alliance.
However, as the youngest among them, Freyr inevitably faced some disdain from these more seasoned hunters—not because of any particular issue but simply due to their age, experience, and strength. Despite his exceptional talent, he was still just a kid; hunters had never lacked talent.
The situation here is quite complicated, with two teams engaged in relentless combat. Casualties are occurring constantly around them. The soldiers of the Human Alliance are the lowest-ranked troops, yet they are the most numerous, deploying over two hundred thousand soldiers, merely by recalling citizens who have served in the military. The massive force formed from this is so intimidating that even the Zerg dares not look at them, which has led to particularly fierce resistance. This is precisely why the casualty rate is so high.
In just a short span of three days, casualties have approached nine thousand, and that is a conservative estimate. If they had not been holding back and refrained from pursuing too aggressively, the numbers could have been even higher.
When all the soldiers from various associations arrived at the northern border, the camp was filled with a stench of smoke and gunpowder, along with the odor of infected wounds from the injured.
It seems they had already experienced significant losses during the Cosmic Bug War. Even pilots from the Mecha Association had sustained injuries. The scene was quite awkward; the officer who came out to greet the reinforcements could only manage a forced smile while explaining the situation here. It turned out that the bugs had already advanced to within thirty kilometers.
While thirty kilometers might seem far, for these bugs that can cover a hundred miles in a day, it is merely a matter of hours. Many engineers here had gone without sleep for several days. The Mecha Association had sent an initial batch for support, initially believing things would go smoothly. However, they were shocked to find that nearly a hundred pilots were lost each day due to targeted battles, with casualties reaching a quarter of their forces. Some were injured but still able to fight; however, only about three-quarters remained combat-ready. Among them were nearly a hundred rookie pilots facing this scale of battle for the first time, likely feeling overwhelmed.
This explains why there is such a heavy atmosphere here—not due to incompetence among the officers but because large-scale Biological Warfare has never been encountered before. Even simulations could not replicate such terrifying warfare; they could only imagine it in their minds. Once it arrives, the consequences are unimaginable.
The terrifying bugs are not just hundreds but thousands—an invasion event composed of hundreds of types of Zerg creatures. Perhaps due to their overwhelming numbers, they devoured forest after forest, leading to resource depletion and forcing them to migrate in swarms.
At that speed, even if they ultimately unleashed Kinetic Energy Weapons as a trump card, such impact would still damage this stronghold. If that force cannot eliminate all the bugs, even allowing several hundred to breach could result in significant casualties in important towns. Moreover, Kinetic Energy Weapons are incredibly fearsome; being just over thirty kilometers away puts their personnel at risk of devastating pressure.
If the distance were extended to a hundred miles, kinetic energy should be able to deliver effective strikes without affecting those at the stronghold. However, misjudgments and disparities in strength squandered this best opportunity. They lost over a hundred mechs, yet it cannot be said that the bugs emerged unscathed.
In a battlefield where bullets roar by the thousands every minute, no living being can easily withstand such onslaught.
War always incurs losses; it’s merely a matter of which side can endure until the end to honor those lives lost.
"Everyone stay put and rest; we will assess the situation here before making strategic deployments." Following this command, several high-ranking officials from various associations disembarked from trucks—at least a dozen accompanied the officer into the innermost Command Tent. Many among them wore chainmail, obscuring their faces.
Aside from that, Freyr and others calmed down after hearing these orders and stopped wandering aimlessly.
However, upon hearing that battle was imminent, excitement surged within them until they took in their surroundings.
It’s hard to say how long it will take for life here to return to normal; it may take months for recovery.
As long as they aren’t missing limbs or severely injured, they will still push forward to fight in the end.
Those who were severely injured would be sent to the rear for assistance, but some would rather return as corpses than be carried away.
There were even those whose bodies could not be found; they allowed their flesh to accompany a swarm of insects along with the bombs.
"Hahaha, I finally get to do this! I'm going to take down the Stink Bug!" Xiong Tai shouted excitedly.
The leader of the Division-Level Hunter Team responded, "Quiet! We must always remain silent. Newcomers, you should learn from those people." His voice was not low, and he pointed directly at others nearby who seemed to be a novice team. Although their levels were comparable to the Soldier-Level Hunter Team, it was clear they were just starting out and lacked strength.
"We're supposed to look up to them?" Xiong Tai muttered.
The leader of the Division-Level Hunter Team raised his voice further, continuing, "What do you mean by that? Am I wrong to tell you to talk less? Do you know what the consequences are for speaking to me like that? Everyone here must obey the President's orders, and you must obey mine. This is the unwritten rule of hunters: the strong obey the weak, with no room for argument. If you have any complaints about what I said, then you'd better disappear from my sight."
Xiong Tai shook his head and said, "I wouldn't dare! How could I speak like that to someone like you? It was my mistake; I apologize."
Lutian, standing nearby, added, "Don't be like that. We don't even know if hunters of their level will survive. You shouldn't always enforce rules so strictly; it makes us seem inhumane. After all, we are not invincible on the battlefield and may also sacrifice ourselves. In this transitional era, there are very few who possess our level of strength. If you scare them all away, who will take on such dangerous work for us?" Lutian had slanted eyes and appeared friendly; when he smiled, he looked gentle.
However, he was still a strategist for this Hunter Team, so even their commander sometimes had to heed his advice. At this point, the shouting leader lowered his head, feeling somewhat guilty. Yet he did not apologize for his earlier behavior; after all, those with strength often acted rigidly and stubbornly without adapting.
Who could blame them for being strong? Strength was everything. Fortunately, Lutian did not force him to apologize or provoke a fight; that alone was a good outcome. The burly man might look like a bandit, but he wouldn’t dare challenge the Commander in front of him. To protect these people's dignity and teach his Commander a lesson was enough; luckily, their Commander was also a soft-hearted brute.
This dispute passed temporarily. When the President and others emerged from the Command Tent, their expressions were grim, indicating that the meeting had not lasted long.
The swarm of insects moved quickly and would not wait for a lengthy strategic discussion.
After dozens of commanders approached and gathered their teams back into position for preparation, the ground began to tremble as many oval-shaped Airships flew into the sky. These were the lowest-level Airship units from the Mecha Association and an enhanced corps formed by mixing Hot Air Balloons from the Human Alliance Army.
These Hot Air Balloon-like Airships were made of very tough materials, and they dropped bombs that were miniaturized nuclear warheads. The destructive power of these warheads was only ten times stronger than that of High-Explosive Bombs. Hundreds of such Hot Air Balloon Airships combined in bombing runs would certainly be intimidating.
It remained uncertain whether this formation could slightly delay the advance of those insects; behind them were thousands of trucks filled with infantry, gathering over three hundred thousand Mixed Army troops here.
One could only imagine how many legions humanity had mobilized for this battle; even retired veterans had been urgently called back into service.
Raising an army for a thousand days is for the use of a single moment; even retired soldiers must worry about the future of humanity.
As long as walking isn't a problem, even veterans arriving in wheelchairs have their uses.
Perhaps many have never witnessed such a scene. The sound of breaking the Sonic Barrier was numerous, some fading into the air, yet the sound waves still reached them. It seemed these Airships were intended to support distant battles.
The incoming reinforcements instantly revitalized Nipoguan, giving those Injured a temporary chance to breathe, allowing them to be sent to the rear for recuperation. Several leaders from various associations and the Star Marshal of the Human Alliance entered the Command Tent one after another, observing the battle over thirty kilometers away through Military Satellites.
One could describe the swarm of insects as imposing; it was unclear whether this had been planned for a long time or if it was merely instinct. Why would they launch an attack on human cities? They were near a seabed that served as a refuge—what was known as Absolute Condemnation. Insects should not be capable of crossing oceans; they lacked safe lungs and pressure-resistant equipment. Even if they managed to submerge in the ocean, they would drown. Yet, even with those two items, it was uncertain they could successfully traverse the ocean; the Turbulent Waves could easily turn them into mush.
Their gathering was completely unexpected. The Military Satellites of humanity had all malfunctioned; either they failed to detect their movements or something extraordinary allowed them to evade tracking. After all, these satellites were in the Atmosphere—surely they couldn't have approached using traditional methods?
Tools that penetrate the Atmosphere might allow some insects to breach it, but entering space meant stepping into an entirely new world. There, in the vacuum, their blood could freeze, and what appeared to be sturdy Armor would crumple. Upon returning to the Underground World, they would be crushed by internal pressure due to atmospheric differences, leading to their demise from within.
Thus, the astronauts at the space station, despite controlling their gaze, found themselves unable to return to Earth. They simply could not adapt to Earth's atmospheric pressure; even surviving upon return would be miraculous. For this reason, seeing them don astronaut suits on Earth felt quite strange.
However, the space station had developed a Gravity System, and it was believed that soon they would be immune to pressure-related injuries and could return to Earth—their birthplace.
At this point, just as they were about to accompany the Commander of the Division-Level Hunter Team upstairs—a man who seemed oblivious—a voice rang out from behind them. "You are Freyr? That's right; I remember you." A cold voice approached them. At that moment, Lutian stepped down with a smile, positioning himself protectively behind Freyr, clearly wary of this man before them.
It wasn't just them; it appeared there were unresolved grievances between them. This frosty man was named Engels Feit; he was also the vice-captain of the Division-Level Hunter Team. Their teams happened to be in proximity when he spotted Freyr and rushed over for confirmation. Consequently, the Commander of that team instinctively sensed trouble and hurried over.
"Don't be afraid, Lutian. What do you want? We're just here to greet an old friend; remember last time? You should say hello properly. This isn't very righteous of you," said a person who seemed quite eloquent and looked like a cool handsome guy.
The rest of Team members quickly gathered around. Lutian glanced at the situation and said, "What are you planning? Are we going to fight? Do we really need infighting at a time like this? Kroya, your performance as Commander leaves much to be desired."
A woman stepped out from the group, displaying her discomfort.
Kroya's legion stood alongside Star Hunter Team; in terms of status, they couldn't compare with those Old Guys from Imperial-Level Hunter Team. However, among most teams, their standing was undoubtedly first-rate. Lutian looked at his own Commander; aside from having a slightly simpler personality than Kroya's, there was a clear gap in strength. He had been striving hard to maintain control over this team; otherwise, he could easily replace this Commander and establish his own team.
There was no need for such restraint. Kroya stepped forward with a huff and shot him a glance before continuing, "Can we hurry up? If there's something to do, let's get on with it. If he doesn't want to cooperate, that's fine; he has his own matters to attend to."
"Oh? That's right." Fetter nodded, then turned to Freyr beside him and continued, "I owe my survival in our last mission to your help, so I should thank you. By the way, I heard you got caught up in another mission and underwent quite a significant operation. Have you forgotten about me now?"
"Mm~" Freyr nodded slightly. "You're not wrong. I remember most things from back then, but I've forgotten other memories. I even forgot who you all were at one point. Fortunately, I eventually remembered my family. But I believe I'll recall more in the future. You don't need to worry about how I feel; just focus on what we have to do now. We are comrades now, so let's not act like enemies. Shouldn't we have each other's backs on the battlefield?"
"Hmph, you were saved by a ghost, Kroya," Gordon Yan scoffed as he walked toward the Tower.
"Let's leave this matter here for now. The grievances between our two teams can be settled later; we need to resolve this incident first," Lutian said.
"Since you've said that, I suppose it can't be helped. But you, Lutian, when will you join our team? I have a good position waiting for you. Your constant refusal is quite nauseating. Your Commander is truly something else—completely useless. Joining my team would give you more opportunities to shine. What do you say?" Kroya smiled.
"No thanks. You're a cunning fellow; even your own people seem enchanted by you. You don't even realize how many members you've lost along the way. Those deaths are a result of your failures as a leader, aren't they? You really make me sick with your pretentiousness. Enough of this talk; my teammates are waiting for me," Lutian replied, turning and leading his team upstairs.
Freyr glanced at Fetter and instinctively pondered for a moment, still struggling to recall anything specific, though Fetter's face seemed somewhat familiar.
However, he decided not to force himself to remember; after all, the memories he had regained were brought back through deep hypnosis by his family.
There were no psychologists here for deep hypnosis, so it was clear that traditional methods wouldn't work to recover his memories.
He bowed slightly, at least out of respect for Fetter as a senior, giving him enough courtesy. "They are my mentors now; I have no other choice but to follow them upstairs. If the opportunity arises, I might ask you what kind of person I was back then. Thank you for remembering me, senior. I'll get back to work now."
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