Chapter 51
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With all his restraint, Claire bit harshly into the gland on Mu Cai's neck. In an instant, the young man jolted, his neck stretched back like a dying swan, his body trembling in Claire's arms.
Abundant pheromones surged into Mu Cai's glands with Claire's forceful bite. A scent akin to rust began to spread, surrounding Mu Cai entirely. He felt as though he had fallen into a river of rusty scent, his powerful sweetness of ripe peaches significantly diluted.
Receiving alpha pheromones eased the intensity of Mu Cai's heat symptoms. His consciousness gradually returned, the previously blurred vision now clear. He saw Claire in front of him.
Upon recognizing Claire, Mu Cai subconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
The other was merely wearing a white shirt. Its front was ruffled, with several buttons yanked off, revealing the well-defined muscles within.
It was clear to him that he had done this unconsciously.
Reflecting on this, Mu Cai couldn't help but feel a bit shy. However, due to the flush of heat, his face was already pink, which masked his embarrassment.
Claire then lifted Mu Cai horizontally into his arms.
Caught off guard, Mu Cai subconsciously wrapped his arms around Claire's neck. "Claire, why did you suddenly..." he began.
"The ground is cold," Claire's voice was hoarse, "Don't stand there barefoot, it's better if I hold you."
The capital star had already become colder; He wore only a thin shirt, but perspiration glistened on his forehead. Claire observed Mu Cai's face and asked softly, "Cai Cai, are you still cold?"
Nestling into Claire's hold, Mu Cai shook his head.
Previously, Mu Cai had been standing barefoot in a deserted factory, confronting Billy. That time, his nerves were strung high, focusing utterly on controlling the other party; he didn't even notice his own teeth chattering.
But now, he curled up in Claire's arms, the latter’s deep-green military coat draped over him. The warmth from Claire's body seeped through the thin fabric, making Mu Cai realize how cold he was before.
His hands were now icy, and his bare feet were also cold, but it was warmer than before. After all, Mu Cai knew clearly that his clothes had been torn and he had no clue where his shoes had fallen off. This temperature was the limit of what Claire could provide.
Meanwhile, Mu Cai's heat symptoms were still ongoing. He could feel his face being flushed with heat, and the scent of the alpha holding him was intoxicatingly good. It prompted the omega breeding urge within him to stir.
However, things are much better now than before. Claire is a strong alpha, and his pheromones are equally potent.
Such an amount of pheromones is enough to keep Mu Cai lucid for a while. He also understands that Claire, desperately holding onto his rationality, chose to temporarily mark him rather than succumbing to a full impulsive act. It was his hope that Mu Cai could stay sensible and avoid harm.
Mu Cai leaned in towards Claire's shoulder, resting his head there. He felt the other's body tremble in excitement due to his actions, causing the hand that was holding him to shake.
He remained quietly nestled against Claire's shoulder, not making any hasty moves.
Claire, feeling Mu Cai's dependence on him, couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh.
Mu Cai is in his heat cycle and doesn't have a suppressant, so his pheromones are practically wafting everywhere. The moment he entered this abandoned arsenal, his body immediately responded, almost burning his sanity to ashes on the spot. His mind was clamoring for him to claim the omega he loved with all his heart.
However, in the end, Claire managed to suppress his intense desires. Aside from his enormous willpower, his restraint was mainly because he was so fond of Mu Cai.
Claire desired Mu Cai deeply, his yearning was so intense, it seemed to flow from his bones. The more an alpha loves an omega, the stronger his desires. However, compared to these basic reproductive instincts swayed by pheromones, he desired Mu Cai's heart even more!
Indeed, under these circumstances, marking Mu Cai completely, the other party has no room to refuse and would enthusiastically cooperate. Moreover, it seems that Mu Cai doesn't entirely lack feelings for him.
Once bonded, he can marry the other party. After the marriage, by leveraging pheromones and the natural instincts of omegas, they can foster deep affection.
If this situation happened somewhere else, under different circumstances, perhaps Claire wouldn't be able to resist. After all, sometimes a breakthrough in feelings merely needs the right opportunity.
But there are no ifs.
This is an abandoned arsenal, the ground filthy and as cold as ice. When Claire found Mu Cai, the other was huddled up, shivering in the cold, with dirty legs, feet, and back exposed.
If Claire did the act here with Mu Cai, the latter would not only endure the pain of being marked completely but also bear the bone-chilling cold. If dirt or germs inadvertently entered Mu Cai's body, he would just fall ill afterward, suffering with fever, and misery – a complete mess.
This is not what Claire wants to see.
The thought alone hurts him so much. For his joy, for his selfishness, making his Mu Cai suffer like this is something Claire couldn't bear.
Claire hopes that the first time with Mu Cai should be beautiful, worth remembering for them both. It shouldn't be a scenario where Mu Cai is unconscious, confused, and taken advantage of in his vulnerable state.
The situation is perilous now. They have just dealt with the enemy, but who knows what else the opponent might have up their sleeve. Of course, the safety of Mu Cai is Claire's primary concern.
There are many ways to alleviate the pain brought on by the rut. Without hesitation, Claire chose to endure it and made a temporary mark for Mu Cai. Fighting against his own instincts was uncomfortable, and Claire was sweating profusely. However, seeing how much Mu Cai trusts him wholeheartedly, he felt it was all worth it.
Claire looked at his smart brain and judged from the red dot on the map that military rescue would arrive soon.
He comforted Mu Cai, who was resting on his shoulder, "Don't worry, Cai Cai. The enemy has been taken care of, and the military's support will arrive shortly."
Mu Cai gradually calmed down and murmured a soft "Hmm" in the crook of Claire's neck.
All the while, Claire was in a battle with his own instincts, and was unable to check on Mu Cai's condition. Now that the other's pheromones had stabilized, he quickly asked, "How does Cai Cai feel? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I'm not hurt," replied Mu Cai.
Then, he briefly explained how he had evaded harm by controlling Billy, thereby affirming that he was unharmed.
Hearing this, Claire couldn't help but feel heartache. Letting his omega fall into such a dangerous situation, and still needing to make an effort to save himself, was his own negligence.
Gently, Claire said, "Cai Cai, you did great. Henceforth, I will always protect you and prevent any harm like this from reaching you again."
Mu Cai hummed an acknowledgment, then said, "My suppression ring has been broken."
Claire immediately replied, "Don't worry, I've already informed the military. As soon as the backup arrives, I'll have them bring you a new one."
"My Qingluan fell over there, and the necklace is broken too."
"I'll pick it up right now, and when we get back, I'll ask the master to fix it. You can rest assured, it'll look better than before!"
With that, Claire's gaze wandered across the open, dirty ground. He quickly spotted the faintly shimmering Qingluan lying on the floor in the dim factory building.
Holding Mu Cai, Claire went over and clumsily squatted down, letting Mu Cai sit in his arms. He reached out and picked up the necklace, placing it in Mu Cai's arms before standing up with Mu Cai in his embrace once again.
Unable to help himself, Mu Cai asked, "Is it not tiring for you to hold me like this?"
Claire, with sweat running down his face due to his sheer will, smiled and said, "You're very light. Holding you doesn't tire me at all."
In reality, Claire was also tired, but not from holding him. Mu Cai was smaller than he was and didn't have much muscle; he barely weighed over a hundred pounds, truly not heavy at all. Plus, as an alpha, Claire was naturally strong, making it no big deal to carry Mu Cai.
Adding to his previous sentiment, he said, "The ground is filthy; it's not good for you to step on it."
But in fact, Mu Cai knew that his feet, legs, back, and hands were already filthy. The hem of Claire's stark white shirt might have already been smudged with grime from Mu Cai.
The other party said this out of nothing but concern for him.
Perhaps it was the influence of his heat, or maybe Claire really was that good. For a moment, Mu Cai really wanted to fully bond with Claire right there and then. The other party was so good to him, and he felt guilty inside, not knowing how to repay and respond to him.
But Mu Cai couldn't.
Because this was just an energy field, and he could exit at any moment. If he exited, and the energy field didn't end, what would Claire do?
He couldn't give the other party such a great surprise only to repay him with immense pain.
Just as the two were silently looking at each other, the distinctive alarm of a rescue aircraft came from outside the door. Simultaneously, several military personnel dressed in uniforms and equipped with mecha shields broke down the door and rushed in.
These people had already received Claire's message before they arrived and had a certain understanding of the situation. A sweet peach fragrance still lingered in the air, clearly indicating that the omega in front of them was in heat.
They immediately decided to escort Claire and Mu Cai onto the rescue aircraft.
Before leaving, Mu Cai couldn't help but say, "The guy lying on the ground was parasitized by the spire worm. I forced the zerg out of his body, so you should take him with you. There might be a chance to save him. The zerg was killed by me and it's on the ground next to us. You can take the remains back for study."
The men nodded. One of them immediately went to check on the life signs of the person called Billy, another went to find medical personnel on the rescue aircraft, and another put on thin gloves and took out a sealable bag to collect the zerg corpse.
Claire vigilantly watched the people escorting them, holding Mu Cai tightly as they moved towards the rescue aircraft.
In anticipation of an emergency situation, the attendees were all outstanding mecha fighters from the military department, two of whom he was somewhat familiar with.
They were all alphas.
Mu Cai was currently in heat, and Claire was intimately aware of how sweet and attractive the pheromones he was emitting were. Surrounded as he was by many alphas, Claire's deeply ingrained competitive desire to claim his mate was triggered.
In the arms of the Claire, the head of the Léon family, was a delicate omega.
He was incredibly beautiful – with soft, jet-black hair, flawless smooth skin, and beautifully arched feet peeking out from beneath the fabric of his clothing.
This omega was in heat. Yet, upon his slender, delicate neck, there was no suppression device. His heat-induced flush enveloped his entire skin in a shade of pink, and he clung softly to Claire.
The faint, sweet scent of peaches lingered around them.
The mecha fighters nearby were momentarily entranced, but were soon subdued by the subsequent overpowering scent of rust. The thick scent of rust spread, enveloping Mu Cai layer by layer, and suppressing the surrounding alphas from making any rash moves.
This omega was claimed.
Recognizing this, the reinforcement troops sent by the military department quickly regained their focus, and without any more sidelong glances, they focused solely on escorting Claire and Mu Cai onto the rescue aircraft.
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Upon entering the rescue aircraft, Mu Cai was gently placed on a slightly rustic but warm and soft bed.
Immediately, medical personnel stepped forward to check on him.
The medical team comprised entirely of betas, which eased Claire's worries. He no longer interfered with Mu Cai's checkup, standing silently at the side and watching.
After conducting the base-level check-up, a suppression ring was fastened around Mu Cai's neck. Although the device was a common model currently used in the Galaxy Empire, not the newly developed one capable of suppressing the spread of pheromones, it was sufficient to help Mu Cai regain his consciousness and completely shed the innate need to procreate during the heat period.
Spotting small wounds muddled with dirt on Mu Cai's back and legs, a female beta nurse quickly walked to the interior of the rescue aircraft, returning with a bowl of hot water and a towel.
Just as she was about to clean the wounds, she was stopped.
The nurse turned her head to see Claire.
The alpha who topped the Galaxy Empire's most desirable to marry list was looking at her, his profound eyes seemed to harbor galaxies.
His adam's apple moved slightly as he said, "Let me do it. I'll clean him up."
Assuredly, the nurse handed the warm water and towel over to him.
She had afterall witnessed Claire carrying this attractive omega into the aircraft personally.
Facing an Omega in heat without a suppression ring, the authoritative figure of the Léon family managed to restrain himself, biting him only once. The thought alone made the nurse unafraid that this beautiful Omega patient would suffer any secondary harm.
However, there were still things the nurse needed to explain to Claire. She took out a set of clothes and placed them on a cabinet nearby, saying to Claire, "The temperature in the capital star is very low right now and he's been chilled earlier. So it's important to keep warm. You need to dry him quickly, after that, let him wear this set of clothes, then let him lie in the quilt and rest properly."
Having said this, the nurse decisively walked away.
Claire dipped the towel into the basin of hot water, then squeezed it dry. He unfurled the towel over his palm, softly saying to Mu Cai who lay in the bed, "I'm going to clean you up."
Mu Cai lying on the bed, lifted the quilt for Claire.
Despite having sufficiently prepared himself before taking on this task, Claire still found his blood racing at the sight before him.
Mu Cai was well-proportioned, his body balanced and graceful.
Especially when he lay prone, the smooth line flowing from his slender back, elegant clavicle, to the slightly concave waist, and then rising to the full curves further down. This fluidity was a pleasure to behold.
Claire tried to keep his gaze focused, his hand first applying the hot towel to Mu Cai's calves. As if touched by a stimulant, Mu Cai slightly trembled, his leg involuntarily jerked, and his delicate ankle found itself in Claire's palm.
It was so slender, Claire could easily grasp it with one hand.
Due to the suppressor ring, the heat of the Omega’s mating cycle started to fade, making the skin under Claire's palm smooth and delicate, carrying a hint of chill.
This chill quickly snapped Claire's mind back from a heated trance. He swiftly cleaned all the dust present on Mu Cai, carefully cleaning his fingers, and then covered him with the quilt.
It was then that Claire placed the hospital's patient robe at the head of Mu Cai's bed and said, "You should wear this quickly."
Mu Cai quickly changed into the patient robe within the quilt.
Even though he was truly exhausted, he still propped himself up to ask Claire standing beside, "Claire, how is Ruan Jia?"
Mu Cai had been feeling dreadful before and couldn't spare the thought for anyone. Now that his condition stabilized, he naturally remembered Ruan Jia.
Ruan Jia was fine when he made the call, but there was no sight of him when he reached the west gate. Mu Cai was afraid that Ruan Jia had fallen prey to Billy, who was being controlled by the zerg.
Claire had calmed down by now.
He sat at the end of Mu Cai's bed, gently patting his leg, saying, "Wait a moment, let me check the news for you."
The head of the military department had been handling this matter, reporting the causes and consequences, and the follow-up events. He had been so engrossed in Mu Cai's care that he hadn't had a chance to check any of these.
Claire started scanning the reports now, the first one addressing Ruan Jia's situation, “He was previously tied up, with his mouth sealed and kept in a blind spot of the west alley, now he is safe, you don’t need to worry.”
Mu Cai was able to relax a bit and asked again, "What about the people who were protecting me before?"
In order not to alert the enemies, some of them were blending in among the crowds inside the venue, while others were outside. They were all secretly protecting him.
The people inside the venue probably saw him leave after receiving a phone call and thought the personnel outside would take over the protection, so they didn't rush out immediately. However, the people outside didn't step up either, so he suspected if they had gotten hurt.
Claire reviewed the messages on his smart device and comforted him, "Some did get hurt, but they've been saved now."
Only then did Mu Cai feel completely reassured.
Whether it was Ruan Jia or the people assigned by the military, in the end, they were all hurt because of him. If any of them had sacrificed their lives, Mu Cai would be devastated.
When Mu Cai relaxed, he gradually felt sleepiness overtaking him.
Nestled in a warm quilt with Claire by his side, he felt utterly at ease. After the exhausting day, he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Watching Mu Cai take slow, even breaths under the cover, Claire's troubled heart from reading the frontline news also settled down in the end.
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After being admitted to the hospital, Mu Cai needed to stay for a few more days. He had to observe his physical condition until he passed his heat.
On the first morning of his hospital stay, Shi Xuezhen, Ruan Jia, and Mu Feng came to visit him. Seeing him, Mu Feng broke into tears, and the whole visit turned into Mu Cai comforting him. In the end, Claire, unable to bear it any longer, physically carried Mu Feng out.
Ruan Jia brought all kinds of homemade cookies, small cakes and sweet treats, attempting to fatten Mu Cai up while he was sick. Seeing Ruan Jia safe and sound, Mu Cai was relieved and firmly refused their offer to stay and take care of him.
Starting this morning, Claire had been constantly attending to Mu Cai by his bedside, and Mu Cai was already a bit overwhelmed. If Ruan Jia had joined, bickering with Claire and endlessly chattering, Mu Cai felt that he would go crazy during his hospital stay.
It wasn't until then that Mu Cai suddenly realized Claire also had his competition.
However, Claire's qualification for the Mecha Tournament had already been withdrawn by the committee due to his leaving the venue mid-game.
Fortunately, the audience from both the Galactic Empire and Kale Federation were aware that he left to save someone, and no one blamed him. On the contrary, countless praises and compliments for Claire appeared on the star network, and many believed that the Mecha Tournament committee shouldn't have been so unsympathetic.
These comments were shown to Mu Cai by Claire himself, trying to lift Mu Cai's spirits. Feeling grateful for Claire's thoughtful behavior, Mu Cai couldn't help but cheer up.
Nestled in the quilt, he looked at Claire sitting at the foot of the bed and sincerely said, "Claire, thank you. In my heart, you are the best in this competition."
Claire's eyes seemed to be filled with a bundle of starlight, bright and shiny, and within the pitch-black pupils, two tiny reflections of Mu Cai could be seen.
Seeing Mu Cai like this, Claire felt an indescribable warmth in his heart.
As Mu Cai's heat period finally ended, it was time for him to be discharged. Before leaving the hospital, Mu Cai habitually asked Claire a question: "Where are we going now?"
During this time, they had always been together. Wherever Claire said they should go, Mu Cai would follow.
However, this time, Claire didn't answer him right away.
Claire paused, revealing a hint of sadness in his eyes, but quickly suppressed it.
He gently said, "Cai Cai, you haven't been home for a long time, so why don't you go back and rest this time? Or if you want to continue your studies, I can take you to the Imperial Mecha Academy."
Sharp as Mu Cai was, of course he realized something was off.
He asked directly, "Where are you going? Why not come with me?"
Claire hesitated.
There were many excuses he could use to brush Mu Cai off, but he didn't want to lie to him. And he knew Mu Cai was smart and wouldn't fall for his lies.
Claire stood in front of him, looking up at him. His dark and bright eyes resembled a clear, calm lake, as they gazed at him.
Claire finally admitted defeat: "I'm going to the front lines."
So that was it.
According to the original storyline, it was indeed the time for the Zerg to prepare for their invasion of the human star system. Three hundred years prior, the Zerg Queen had suddenly died, and a new Queen was born. During these three hundred years, while the new Queen was still maturing, the Zerg lacked the overall brainpower needed to unite them all.
The newborn Queen was too weak to withstand a long interstellar journey, so the Zerg couldn't travel far. They could only scavenge nearby star systems for food for their vulnerable queen.
This three-hundred-year scavenging expedition left the surrounding star systems scarce of food. Although the Zerg Queen had now matured, she could not produce more zergs due to the lack of food.
By this point, the Zerg were becoming impatient. Upon the exposure of their scheme, the not-mature-enough Queen, driven by hunger and her innate reproductive instinct, immediately ordered an attack on the human star system. They intended to conquer at least one planet to secure food for herself and her offspring.
Mu Cai tentatively asked, "Is it because of the Zerg?"
Claire didn't hide the truth and nodded, "Yes. News from the front lines indicates that they have already massively invaded the planet Kotal. The researchers on Kotal are evacuating, and it's likely that the Zerg will soon target Lunuo."
He continued, looking at Mu Cai, "The scale of this Zerg invasion is comparable to that three centuries ago. The mecha fighters at the front lines are not sufficient. The empire has provided me with a place to live and countless honors; it's time for me to give back. Moreover, only by stopping their advancement can I protect the ones I want to protect."
Mu Cai responded without hesitation, "I will go with you."
Without a second thought, Claire objected, "No!"
"Why not?" Mu Cai took a step closer, his gaze intensifying as he looked at Claire, "I am also a mecha fighter. I can enter the battlefield too."
Claire gently put his hand on Mu Cai's shoulder, trying to persuade him, "Cai Cai, you're not part of the military. Why must you go to the battlefield? It's not your obligation. Wouldn't it be better for you to stay behind, waiting safely for our victorious return?"
Of course, it wouldn't.
Mu Cai checked the script in his mind.
According to the original storyline, Mu Feng had participated in the Zerg invasion battle. Human victory was ultimately achieved because Mu Feng detected the Zerg Queen's presence using his psychic powers and, leveraging the new type of mecha's agility, located and killed her within the swarm.
However, the plot had already been disrupted. He was the only one who could utilize the new mecha type. If he didn't go, humanity's defeat could be probable!
Moreover, even if it wasn't to complete the mission, Mu Cai wanted to be there with Claire.
He yearned to fight alongside Claire and protect him.
Despite Claire's opposition, Mu Cai insisted, "The empire has provided me with a place to live and countless honors; it's time for me to give back. Moreover, only by stopping their advancement can I protect the ones I want to protect."
This was Claire's original words, and he never imagined that Mu Cai would repeat it verbatim.
Speechless, Claire tried to find more reasons to stop Mu Cai, but to no avail. Mu Cai reached out and gently wrapped his arms around Claire's neck, pleading, "Let me go with you, please, Claire."
They were quite close to each other, the faint scent of peaches emanating from Mu Cai, each breath pulling Claire deeper into the allure.
Almost instinctively, Claire embraced Mu Cai by the waist.
He blinked, his dense eyelashes fluttering slightly before responding with a bitter smile, "Cai Cai, stop trying to manipulate me."
If he wasn't genuinely worried about Mu Cai's safety, Claire might have already agreed, firmly embedded in Mu Cai's grip, unable to resist.
Mu Cai simply said, "But I want to be with you."
Claire froze.
Mu Cai continued, "Although I'm not from the military, I am a mecha fighter, and I have the latest model. Isn't it a waste if I don't use it for the empire's benefit? Not to mention, I don't think the Zerg want to control me just to exploit me; they might actually fear my abilities."
"Besides," Mu Cai looked at Claire, "if you go and the zergs strike back, who will be responsible for me? Didn't you promise to stay with me, to protect me, always?"
Mu Cai knew he was pushing it. Using Claire's promise as a formal agreement was a little unfair.
But Claire fell for it.
He sighed inwardly, feeling a slight wavering in his resolve. Mu Cai had pointed out his deepest concern.
Seeing Claire wavering, Mu Cai pressed on, "Besides, what could you possibly use to stop me? Joining the military is my freedom of choice, and they will definitely agree. Instead of pairing me with someone else, wouldn't it be better to let me follow you directly?"
The young man in front of him was glaring, puffing out his cheeks in a show of defiance.
Claire couldn't help but laugh, though it was a smile tinged with a hint of helplessness. He looked down at Mu Cai, "Are you sure you want to go?"
Mu Cai nodded firmly.
Claire's expression turned solemn, "Then you must take care of yourself. Your safety is the priority."
Mu Cai quickly reassured him, "I will stay with you."
Claire laughed, "Alright, I agree. You really are a handful, you know."
Hearing his comments, Mu Cai wrinkled his nose.
Claire couldn’t resist reaching out to gently tease his small nose, every action filled with affection.
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Three days later, Mu Cai followed Claire aboard the battleship bound for the planet Kotal.
Deciding that night, Mu Cai sent messages to Shi Xuezhen and Ruan Jia.
Shi Xue Zhen did not say much. She had long since noticed her son had become more independent. She knew she couldn't clip his wings, only truly wishing him the best from the bottom of her heart.
Meanwhile, Ruan Jia tried to deter him with anger, coldness, and other tactics. But, it was only after realizing that none of these were effective did Ruan Jia finally bless Mu Cai, albeit reluctantly.
Mu Cai consoled Ruan Jia patiently, successfully lifting his spirits in the end.
[I'll fold ten origami cranes every day. I hope that when I have a thousand, you'd have returned safely. I'll also wish the same for Claire!]
Upon receiving this message, Mu Cai couldn't help but laugh as he embarked on the battleship.
The battleship this time was unlike the one Mu Cai took to Randt Star for the Mecha Tournament. The latter resembled a commercial aircraft, whereas this one was a true war machine.
The hull was enormous, equipped with capsule-like dormitories, a training room, and a cafeteria within. It carried dozens of shells and lasers guns, looking like a steel beast roaming the galaxy.
This battle wasn't solo; almost every planet under the Galactic Empire dispatched a battleship, along with additional mecha fighters.
Through the porthole, Mu Cai even saw several battleships emblazoned with the logo of the Kale Federation.
Claire explained to a curious Mu Cai, "The Zerg threatens human survival, and the Galactic Empire and Kale Federation are interconnected. Although Kotal is not part of the Kale Federation, they've sent reinforcements as well."
Mu Cai nodded in understanding.
All the battleships first halted at the planet Runo. As Billy was from Runo, the military had thoroughly investigated the planet. Everyone was observed and quarantined for a long time, subjected to numerous checks and scans before being released.
Runo held a substantial amount of mineral resources transported from Kotal, having local processing factories that could convert these resources into energy for the battleships. As a result, Runo was chosen as the temporary command center for the conflict. Many experienced veterans were dispatched here, and the Galactic Empire's General Bartley was appointed as the commander-in-chief for the mission.
The front-line situation was well scoped out by the military. After several arrangements, plans, and information exchange, General Bartley decided to send a subset of the battleships to Kotal to gauge the local conditions.
If an opportunity arises, the battleships and the mecha fighters can engage the Zerg immediately. The remaining battleships, however, stayed behind at Kotal, ready to provide support or lead a retreat when necessary.
However, the commander-in-chief declared to everyone present, "We must defend human territories to our last breath!"
The battleship that Claire and Mu Cai were aboard was among those deployed for reconnaissance.
Their ship, named 'Star of Dawn,' hailed from the capital of the Galactic Empire. The ship's captain was Major General Nolan, with Claire as his deputy. With about three hundred mecha soldiers and numerous potent shells onboard, it was amongst the best-equipped battleships deployed.
The Zerg's attack was blatant, making no effort to bypass human settlements since they relied on their invulnerable bodies to flatten planets rather than employing complex tactics.
However, this did not mean that the Zerg relied solely on their physical strength in battle. Since they could travel between galaxies, it meant they also possessed their own fleet. This fleet, however, was created by using the shells of their deceased kin, combined with the stolen battleships of other intelligent species.
Although the dispatched fleet claimed to be on a reconnaissance mission, everyone knew that this was just a cover. The movements of these dozen or so battleships could not be concealed. If they encountered the Zerg, a confrontation was inevitable. According to General Bartley's view, if an opportunity presented itself, they could immediately open fire and request support.
Now, over a dozen battleships were en route to the planet Kotal.
The journey from Runo to Kotal took a mere four to five hours. As Kotal drew closer, all the battleships prepared to pass through the atmosphere.
After all the battleships traversed the wispy white fog, and the protective outer coating of the ship's hull was burned by heat generated from atmospheric friction, everyone was stunned by the sight before them.
The vast expanse of Kotal was densely packed with zergs of all shapes and sizes. Some had strong and powerful hind legs, known as Springtails; others had scythe-like forelegs, categorized as Sapsuckers; and even some possessed transparent wings, called Flying Bugs.
Their only commonality was their shiny, hard shells.
When they saw the battleships hovering in the sky, the entire Zerg race began buzzing. The zergs' cries pierced the heavens, causing an intense resonance. This noise was a significant mental shock when it reached human ears.
As everyone quickly put on their prepared earmuffs, they saw the transparent-winged flying bugs start to flutter, taking off towards the battleships.
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Note: Cute short story featuring Mu Cai and Claire available here (Unrelated to any of the arcs, also not part of the official extras, won't affect your reading of the entire novel. This was added by the author in their notes for Chapters 50-51):
FDOY - The Story of the Little Peach Immortal (Part I)
FDOY - The Story of the Little Peach Immortal (Part II)
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