Chapter 570: Divine Miracle
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
"Indeed! He was venerated as much as the Blade Warrior. He was the first spiritual leader of Martians." Michaux's eyes were lit up with respect and longing.
"He… left a gift for me?"
"Hehe… Not for you, but for the heir of the Blade Warrior. This item had been staying with the sect for a few centuries. It was here ever since Andres left for the Divine Path."
Wang Tong felt honored to receive such a legendary hero's heirloom. With a great measure of respect and reverence, Wang Tong followed Michaux to the inner chambers of the tower.
Opening the door, the two ran into Susu, who was too slow to pull her ear back. Being caught eavesdropping red-handed somehow lent Susu a sense of indignation. She glared at the two warriors grudgingly and complained, "Why are two so quiet? What was going on in there?"
"You are rude to our guest, Susu."
"What kind of guest will return our hospitality with hurtful comments?"
Wang Tong ruffled the young girl's hair and said with a warm smile: "Alright now, that's it."
Wang Tong and Michaux left the room side by side like two close friends. Susu stood behind and stared at Wang Tong's back with as much resentment as a child could muster. How dare he patronize the sister of the young master?
"I take it that Lie Jian was coming to kill me?" Wang Tong asked calmly. The thought of fighting against Lie Jian didn't frighten him.
"His ambition needed to be kept in check." Michaux avoided the question.
"He is still the same. Ha!" Wang Tong chuckled, seeming pretty cool with the prospect of being murdered.
Lie Jian had been planning Wang Tong's death ever since the heir of Blade Warrior revealed himself. By now, he ought to have a million different ways to execute Wang Tong. The fact that he still didn't act on his plan meant that something had deterred him from doing so. Wang Tong wagered that it has something to do with the energy crystal gun.
Lie Jian might have had a chance to do away with Wang Tong before the latter had selflessly made the pattern of the gun a public property. This decision had swayed Michaux to favor Wang Tong; Lie Jian knew that if he tried to murder Wang Tong, the young master would intervene.
After talking with Wang Tong, the thought of killing him had completely evaporated from Lie Jian's mind. Truth be told, Michaux was deeply touched by Wang Tong's compassion and a great sense of responsibility. As it was said, great power came with great responsibilities. Although he was from Earth, he had done more for the people of Mars than the Martian leaders.
The alliance with House Lie aside, Michaux admired Wang Tong tremendously. However, Michaux could not simply throw their agreement with House Lie out of the window because another hotshot was now in town. Michaux had helped Wang Tong as much as he could without crossing the line.
After all, the three of them: Wang Tong, Michaux, and Lie Jian, was the last hope in saving humanity.
After a long walk, Wang Tong and Michaux had finally arrived at the entrance to the innermost section of the tower. Wang Tong could feel a strong presence of power behind the heavy oaken gates.
"Go ahead. I will wait for you here." The gift was meant for Wang Tong and Wang Tong alone. As a follower of the Divine Way, Michaux had extraordinary self-restraint, particularly over his curiosity. "See no evil, hear no evil, and say no evil." Such was the way of a cultivator who devoted his life to the Divine path.
Withdrawing from the worldly stimulation also came at a cost: it had rendered Michaux a pacifist who was no longer suited as a leader during war. Michaux knew of his shortcomings, and therefore, he didn't protest Wang Tong's allegations of incompetence.
When Wang Tong walked into the inner tower, he found himself surrounded by a web of soul energy that had blended in perfectly with the intricate structure of the building. This soul energy was the result of centuries of faithful prayers and concentrated thoughts of the sect members.
All the while, Wang Tong wondered what the greatest Divine Master had left for him at his deathbed. Wang Tong charged up his soul energy and dashed deeper into the labyrinth.
…
"How did it go, Susu?" Xiao Yuyu hurried to ask what the gossip princess had learned.
"Wang Tong is a jerk! He accused of my brother a terrible leader. Hmph! What would Mars be like without my brother?"
"He didn't mention me?" Yuyu asked. The disappointment was written all over her face.
"I am not too sure. When he explained the reason he was here, I couldn't hear anything." Susu complained. Wang Tong was a bad person through and through; she should have known better!
"Oh…is that right?" Xiao Yuyu's face relaxed a bit after hearing Susu's reply.
"Where are they now?"
"I have no idea where Lie Jian is, but Brother had taken Wang Tong to the tower. Apparently, the first Divine Master had left something for Wang Tong. Ah-ha! Why don't we go join them? I want to see what kind of ancient relic that is. Gosh! If it were from Master Andres himself, it would be over a few hundred years old by now."
…
Looking from the outside, the inner tower was of very crude construction. However, only a few of the sect members had been in there, since only the Divine Master of each generation had access to the tower.
Inside the tower, the walls were plain and the roof was open. The sea of stars made Wang Tong feel closer to heaven than he had ever been.
The first generation Divine Master, Andres, was one of the greatest heroes of his time. The three masters: Li Feng, Rilangalos, and Andres, had led the confederation force into one after another victory when the Zergs' power was at its peak. While standing inside the tower and thinking of the brave acts of the three heroes, one would easily imagine the triumphant era when fearless human warriors marched against a sea of Zergs. The tower was the symbol of the three masters' unyielding will.
The tower stood the way it had been for centuries even after the three masters were all gone. As the Zergs grew stronger each day, what should the humans do? Who should they turn to this time?
Questions flooded into Wang Tong's mind, and he hoped that he could find an answer here. Regardless of what awaited him in the future, he was determined to continue his course until the end.
Wang Tong slowly placed his hand on a scintillating space crystal at the center of the room.
KOM!
Dang! Dang! Dang!
The ancient tower started to glow until it turned into a beacon that lit up the sky. A bell deep within the tower chimed as if it were announcing the will of the god.
Dang! Dang! Dang!
The followers of the Divine Mastery sect heard the bell: the god had spoken. They hurried to the base of the tower and started praying. Their god, Andres, had not forgotten about his followers, and had come to them when they needed his guidance.
Michaux threw his head back as he tried to control the excitement and trepidation in him. The heir of the Blade Warrior was here. 'Reverent Divine Master, your followers shall follow your footsteps and charge into the rain of fire to save humanity from destruction!'
Susu and Xiao Yuyu tried to sneak pass Michaux and enter the tower; however, they were caught by the young master immediately. As Susu was ready to plead to her brother to let her into the building, the miracle showed up.
The followers of the Divine Mastery Sect believed that once a person had cultivated enough soul energy, he or she would be able to ascend into godhood. Andres, for example, existed in every martian's heart as a god.
Lie Jian looked to the gleaming tower and wondered if this unusual phenomenon meant anything.
If Lie Jian didn't need Wang Tong to get rid of the Zergs, he would have already killed him many times over.
Everyone thought Wang Tong was the hero who saved the Mars, but they were all wrong from the beginning. There was never a hero, but only winners; and he, Lie Jian, was born to be the winner.
"My lord, should we think about it?"
"Think my a*s!"
"My lord, the god had spoken in the Divine Mastery city. Are you sure we have to do this?"
"Of course! It is a good omen! The god knew that I am destined to become the overlord of Mars, and what happened is a proof. The god was trying to send me a message! The sect should have belonged to me, even my father told me so."
"Yes… my lord."
"Tell the soldiers to get ready for a big fight. When I finally claim the throne, I will give each one of my boys a medic."
Zhang Guangming let out an ugly grin. Those field medics shouldn't waste their time on the battlefield; instead, they should be healing the warriors in their beds.
Inside the light, Wang Tong couldn't feel his body at all. After some time, he saw a haughty figure appear in front of him.
It was Mr. Wannabe!
The old ghost held a serious expression and his eyes locked with Wang Tong's. Wang Tong backed away as the former closed in. Wang Tong finally understood what the gift was; it was Mr. Wannabe's memory.
Wang Tong would never know what kind of agreement Li Feng made with Andres, but he knew that it had something to do with Einherjar Wannabe.
Wang Tong had always believed that Mr. Wannabe was one of the legendary warriors of the time, whose power should be on par with Li Feng. And this development had proven him right.
But, who exactly was Mr. Wannabe?
Mr. Wannabe reached out and touched the crystal; flashes of images, each a capsule of emotions and feelings, swarmed into his head.
The girl's face that had been only a vague image in Mr. Wannabe's mind started to become clearer. She had all the traits of a cute and lovely human girl, but she was not a human at all. Nonetheless, Mr. Wannabe finally remembered that she was the love of his life.
Chapter 571: Old Memories And New Life
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
Her name was Xiao Zhen, and she was the only person that the Pirate King Zachery could not forget.
Pirate King Zachery had been one of the most notorious outlaws in human history. His actions were even worse than Patroclus' betrayal of the human race. He was the one that opened up the space gate which ushered in the Kaedeians fleet and their pursuers, the deadly Zergs.
He was one of the most formidable villains the world had ever seen. His power was on par with the rest of the trio of legendary warriors: Blade warrior Li Feng, the son of the god Rilangalos, and the Divine Master Andres.
As the flashes of images kept on pouring in, they started to form coherent memories, like rain droplets forming a trickle of water. If not for the Blade Warrior, the Pirate King might have already claimed the world. Even Rilangalos could not overcome him. Not only did he possess an extraordinary power, but he was also cunning and calculated, making him deadlier than any opponent Rilangalos had ever encountered.
However, his glory days were short-lived, because he met his bane, the Blade Warrior. His defeat at the hands of the Blade Warrior was not because he was weak, but because the shackles that God had placed on the humans, so that they would never be as powerful as they were.
During the Mech championship, Zachery had met his doom. However, his body was preserved by a cyborg girl who was madly in love with him. In order to make up for the world on which her loved one had inflicted so much harm, she sacrificed herself and revealed Zachery's final secret to Li Feng.
When the flashes of images retold what had happened to Xiao Zhen in the end, Zachery felt his heart shatter into pieces. However powerful he had been, he felt helpless knowing that the only reason for him to continue living had perished.
At the onset of the Zerg invasion, the humans were ill-prepared. The confederation desperately needed another powerful warrior in addition to general Li Feng. At that time, there were only four warriors who could measure up to the Zerg army. They were Li Feng, Rilangalos, Andres, and Zachery's clone. Zachery's clone was created by Andres by reviving the soul essence of the dead villain. Although he was brought back to life, his memories remained six feet under the earth. The only recollection he had about his past was a vague image of a girl's face. He couldn't even remember that girl's name.
Over centuries of service for the mankind, Zachery finally redeemed himself of his sins. It was time to give back what was his.
What did all the newfound memories mean to the old ghost? Would he live as a new man or would be embarking on his old unsavory path? The choice was Zachery's. The Blade warrior was a thing of the past, and therefore, no one could stop him any longer.
When the last bit of Zachery had entered Mr. Wannabe's mind, the two's thoughts started to merge into one.
KOM!
Zachery let go of the restraint placed on him over the centuries and allowed the energy inside him to flow freely to the outside world. A burst of energy shot through the roof of the tower and into the sky above. The beam of energy pushed the colored clouds out of the way, punching a hole in the starlit sky.
Wang Tong was not surprised by the development. While he was training with Mr. Wannabe in the crystal space, he felt that it was not a coincidence that the old ghost had chosen the form of the infamous pirate lord.
Even after Wang Tong had learned about Mr. Wannabe's notorious past, he was not afraid of the old ghost. However insane Mr. Wannabe had been, he was Wang Tong's closest family now.
The space crystal shattered after it had given up all that it had to offer. Zachery flew himself out of the tower and found Wang Tong, the heir of the Blade Warrior. The Blade Warrior was the culprit of his centuries-long suffering, and now, his revenge was within an arm's reach.
However, he didn't intend to harm Wang Tong; instead, he looked at the latter with a father's loving glance. He threw back his head and shouted. "Li Feng, you had destroyed my life but gave me a son. We are all square!"
Although Zachery had regained his memories, he had lost too many things in the three hundred years. However, the time he had spent with Wang Tong made him feel that all the pain he had suffered in the past was suddenly bearable. He had learned to look forward instead of back.
The fourth seal in the crystal space had finally been lifted and inside of it was nothing but a choice.
Zachery's body slowly materialized in the physical world, and the pirate king was reborn. Coming back to the physical world after so many years didn't bring him joy, since his mind was occupied by the work he needed to do. He said to Wang Tong, "It is time to finish what we have started."
"This is my duty, not anyone else's. But I appreciate your offer, father." Wang Tong knew that Zachery was going to execute his dangerous plan for him. However, he would not allow himself to back down while letting the others do his bidding.
"Good! I am proud of you! Finally, something that I can brag in front of Li Feng…Haha! "
"Go now! Do whatever you have to. There is nothing in the world that can stop you."
Zachery and Wang Tong stood side by side as they looked down at the sprawling city landscape, feeling their blood boiling.
The strange phenomenon that occurred around the tower of the Divine Master had quickly become a viral sensation on the skynet. Everyone believed that this was a message from the god, foretelling their salvation.
During the times as dark and savage as this, the slightest sliver of hope could mean waking up the next day with a smile or eating a bullet in the dark, cold night.
The ordinary citizen could trust their future based on superstitious beliefs, but Wang Tong and Michaux couldn't. Nonetheless, ever since the incident, the population on Mars regarded the sect with even more respect and deference.
After Wang Tong returned to Michaux, the latter didn't ask a thing about what had happened in the tower.
"Are you here to take Xiao Yuyu away from me?" Michaux Odin asked.
"Indeed, she will play a key role in the operation. I hope you understand." Wang Tong admitted right away.
"No problem at all. You can take all of the four chief medics if you so wish." Michaux said. He knew what Wang Tong's mission could change the situation on Mars once and for all.
Wang Tong shook his head. "No need. I only need Xiao Yuyu and ten other regular field medics. Our advantage is not in numbers, but in teamwork. Of course, I will fully disclose the risk with them. They don't have to go if they don't want to."
Michaux nodded. All this while, he admired Wang Tong for his ability to put his words into actions. Lie Jian had thought of the same plan before, but he lacked the courage to take the leap of faith as Wang Tong would.
When Xiao Yuyu was told to go to Michaux's office, her heart skipped a beat. She was right: Wang Tong came for her! But, would Michaux let her go?
Everyone knew that Wang Tong and the young master were no more than acquaintances, and Michaux's real ally was Lie Jian. However, Michaux's recent behavior seemed to suggest otherwise.
"Greetings, young master!"
"Ah, you are finally here. I think you should already know why you are here. Anyway, I will let you talk to Wang Tong, and you can make your own decision."
"Yes."
"Susu, come with me."
"No. I want to stay." Susu straightened her back and pouted. She firmly believed that Wang Tong was a despicable man, and that she absolutely needed to be there to protect Xiao Yuyu.
"Susu, I won't have this nonsense. Come out at this instant!" Michaux hardened his face and refuted. Seeing her brother was getting riled up, Susu lowered her head and left the room reluctantly.
"I do this to protect you, Susu," Michaux said and heaved a sigh of resignation. He knew that if Susu heard Wang Tong's plan, no one would be able to prevent her from joining him. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. However tough she thought she was, she wouldn't last long in the harsh reality.
Plus, Michaux was considering a daring operation as well. If anything happened to him, the sect would need a leader.
"Nice to see you, everyone."
"Nice to see you again, captain."
Wang Tong cracked a smile and said, "I need your assistance."
"Just tell us what we have to do. We will not let you down." Xiao Ling announced. Wang Tong told the girls about his plan and reminded them about the danger involved.
"So that is all. We might not be able to return home ever again. I know I am asking a lot from you, so I understand if you wouldn't feel like you are ready for this yet. Don't feel obligated."
"Wang Tong, from the day I joined the sect, I was ready to die for people of the Mars. I will join you! " Xiao Yuyu said firmly.
"Me too!"
Chapter 572: Rat From The Sewer
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
No one was willing to back out of Wang Tong's plan. Although they were young girls, they possessed more courage than most men.
"Very well! From this day on, let us forge our bonds in the fires of hell. Till death do us apart!" Wang Tong joked.
"From THIS day on? I thought we were already bonded!" Xiao Ling exclaimed dramatically
Michaux heard the banters and laughter while he stood outside; he knew the girls had made their decision. He knew that all of his field medics were fearless heroines; otherwise, they wouldn't have made the cut in the first place.
If not for other duties that Michaux had to attend to, he might have joined Wang Tong's plan himself.
"Thank you, Michaux! I think it is time for me to leave."
"There is no rush. Let them pack up so you can leave with them tomorrow." Michaux suggested.
"Haha, sure! Might as well." Wang Tong nodded. The sun was setting, and traveling alone in the dark could be dangerous.
Although Xiao Yuyu was excited about the upcoming mission, she had to spend the night making arrangements to cover her shift while she was absent.
"Young master, Zhang Guangming requests an audience." A soldier reported to Michaux.
Michaux furrowed his brows and murmured, "What is he doing here?" The insolent princeling had been a thorn in his side ever since his uncle passed away. For the sake of his uncle's name and reputation, Michaux had been cleaning after Zhang Guangming's mess and enduring his arrogance.
"I will meet him with you. It probably has something to do with me anyway." Wang Tong smiled wryly. He knew Michaux had a soft heart, and was easily taken advantage of by unscrupulous dipsh*t such as Zhang Guangming.
Wang Tong hopped that Zhang Guangming had his wits about him this time.
When Michaux saw Zhang Guangming in the meeting room, the latter looked much more relaxed than he was during the day.
"Guanming, what's up?" Michaux greeted him like an old friend. Zhang Guangming shot Michaux a sidelong glance and then said, "I come here to apologize. I shouldn't have done that earlier today. Your slap was a wake-up call for me. I want to dedicate myself to the war against the Zergs from now on."
Michaux was pleasantly surprised, as he smiled earnestly. "I am so happy that you think this way!"
"Mr. Wang Tong. I am sorry! It was very rude of me earlier today." Zhang Guangming apologized to Wang Tong sincerely.
"That's it! Haha! Let's move beyond the past and always remember the teaching of our Divine Master." Michaux said ardently. He had grown up with Zhang Guangming, and therefore, had always wished that the two could work together as brothers.
Wang Tong cracked a smile and then nodded. "No worries. Mr. Zhang is straightforward and outspoken gentlemen, so no hard feelings."
"I wager that you are here for some urgent matters. Let me know if you need my help. I will try my best to redeem myself of what I have done."
Even after Wang Tong and Michaux had sat down, Zhang Guangming stood still, his head slightly lowered. It seemed that Michaux's slap had made him take a long hard look at his actions, and he was genuinely sorry for the damage he had inflicted over the years.
"Michaux had offered me help already. Thank you for the offer."
"It will be my honor to serve the heir of the Blade Warrior. I felt ashamed of my actions earlier, and I promise that I will strive to make a positive contribution to our world!"
"Haha, Guangming, you have changed so much since this morning!" Michaux laughed. He still found it hard to believe that a hopeless brat could have changed himself so utterly. If he knew his slapping was so effective, he should have done it many years ago.
Zhang Guangming scratched his head and said, "I am surprised by myself too. I was so mad at you at first that I returned the tower and was going to… beat up someone to vent. But, the tower lit up all of a sudden, and I felt a voice calling me and telling me what I should do. After that, I felt so terrible for all the things I had done. It hit me like a wrecking ball! "
It finally occurred to Michaux that it was the spirit inside the tower that had affected Zhang Guangming. He was the late Divine Master's last of kin. Bonded by blood, Zhang Guangming could have been easily affected by the energies inside the tower.
"It was in part my fault too. I should have stopped you or give you a stern warning much earlier. However, it is still not too late! Let's work together and save our people on Mars."
"Well said! Let's toast for the final liberation of all human in the world." Zhang Guangming said as he raised a cup and chucked the content down his throat.
"Very well!" The joy in Michaux was beyond description. It was his sworn duty to look after the kin of the late divine master. He couldn't have expected a happier ending than this.
Pa!
With a sweep of the hand, Wang Tong knocked the cup in Michaux's hand onto the floor. Its contents sizzled as soon as they reached the carpet, and a few wisps of toxic flume rose from it.
"What's the meaning of this!" Michaux exploded.
"Michaux, not everyone is a gentleman like you. People never change. You need to be careful." Wang Tong studied Zhang Guangming knowingly.
Zhang Guangming felt the glare on his face, but he didn't flinch, and neither did he felt the slightest shame. He straightened his back and asked, "How did you know? Did I not sound sincere enough when I apologized?"
"Quite the contrary. You sounded too sincere, almost overwrought. It made some sense to be repentant toward your brother Michaux, but me too? That's over-the-top acting. Plus, the moment you walked in here, I knew exactly what you were after." Wang Tong shrugged. Having been raised in the darkest allies on the earth, he had seen too many dirty deeds, and was more wary of people than the gullible young master.
"Why? " Michaux asked testily.
"Are you kidding me, Michaux? Is it not obvious enough for you? I should be the young master. You had taken over my position using guile and deceit! " Zhang Guangming opened his arms and shouted. "All of this should have belonged to me! I am the savior of the world!" He about turned and shot both warriors a searing glance. "Very well! I will do away with both of you tonight!"
It was apparent that Zhang Guangming didn't come here alone as shadows emerged from the dark corners of the room. Zhang Guangming had hired many deadly fighters over the years, and it was time to put into use.
Many powerful fighters inside the sect disapproved of Michaux's overly benevolent methods, and they had double-crossed the young master and joined Zhang Guangming. None of those fighters were the true believers of the Divine Path, and neither did they care about the human's suffering on Mars.
There were twenty assassins in the room, surrounding their targets. Five of those twenty were of the legendary level, and the other fifteen were level twenty. This was the elite unit that Zhang Guangming had gathered over the years.
Zhang Guangming was convinced that Michaux would not stand a chance while fighting five legendary warriors at once, and he had never considered Wang Tong a serious threat.
"Did you join him willingly?" Michaux asked calmly.
"Young Master, you and I are going after very different goals. It's nothing personal."
"Stop wasting your time talking to him. He is no longer the young master. He is a traitor! He colluded with this earthling and tried to dismantle our Sect from the inside. Kill him! I will be your lawful master!" Zhang Guangming barked.
Wang Tong rose from his seat slowly; he could not stand the prick any longer.
"Michaux, let me help you with your 'house-cleaning.' "
Michaux shook his head. "This is an internal business of the sect. I will have to do it myself."
Wang Tong waved an okay and shook his head as he lamented the doomed fate of these fighters.
"KILL!"
The members of the sect heard an explosion coming from the young master's room. Their knee-jerk reaction was to rush there and protect the young master. After all, Michaux was the last hope for saving the Martians.
While the sect warriors stormed through the street towards the tower, Lie Jian lolled in a large sofa and was sipping a cup of tea.
"My lord, should we take a look?"
"For what?"
"Zhang Guangming had taken a group of soldiers with him, I am afraid…"
"Do you know why I was always friendly to that dipsh*t?" Lie Jian asked with a smirk. "Because I wanted his ego to grow bigger, and bigger, and bigger… and then PUFF! Haha! He is trouble. I knew it from the beginning, but I can't get my hands dirty. So, I have found a creative way of getting rid of him."
"But what about Michaux? He is unprepared."
"He has Wang Tong." Lie Jian remarked lightly.
By the time the sect soldiers reached Michaux's residence, the building was already gone. Michaux had built a tomb for the twenty-one souls using of the large pile of rubble.
Chapter 573: Knight Of Onslaught
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
The fire had fused Zhang Guangming's body permanently to the throne chair that he had wanted so much. For the dignity of his uncle, Michaux didn't carve up his body as he did to the other traitors.
Although Michaux was a compassionate leader, he was not a softy, and he upheld his bottom line more fiercely than anyone else. If it were during peacetime, Michaux might have spared Zhang Guangming's life. However, during this time of turmoil, the last thing humans needed was infighting.
"Young master, are you alright?"
Michaux waved a hand and said, "The lord of the Divine Will had betrayed the sect. Fang Zhengnan, I now declare you as the new lord of the Divine Will! Lead our man to take the city now…I don't want to see any rebellions."
"Yes, my lord." Fang Zhengnan quickly gathered his troops and charged out of the city. What Zhang Guangming failed to understand was that even if Michaux were dead, he still wouldn't be the next in line to inherit the title.
Seeing Zhang Guangming was dead, everyone cheered with relief. No one liked this inept and arrogant prince anyway.
…
The next day morning, Wang Tong, Xiao Yuyu, and the other field medics started toward Maersa. Although Xiao Yuyu held a hard expression, she was beautiful as ever. The war didn't exclude women from the battlefield, for they had as much strength as men.
Their Maglev whizzed through the streets as Xiao Yuyu watched Wang Tong in the driver's seat, her heart filled with mixed emotions. However, she knew that as long as she was with him, she would not feel lonely ever again.
Meanwhile, one of the metropolises behind the front line, the Magellan, was on fire.
"Mathew, lead a unit to stop those two giant a*s Zergs in the southeast corner."
"My lord, let's pull back for now. We can't handle the golden dark one."
"Pull back? Pull back to where?"
"My lord, there will be firewood to burn as long as the green hills stay. If we keep going like this, we will exhaust all of our elite units in no time."
"Then, let me die with them! Someone else can be the city lord in my stead. If I allow the Zergs to ravage the city like this, how could I call myself the protector of the city?"
Song Zhong was only a level nineteen warrior; however, he had two legendary warriors under his command. In the past, the two legendary warriors had pushed back many Zerg's raids and were hailed as the heroes by the local civilians. Their victories had inspired not only those inside the Magellan, but also those who lived in the suburb areas. As long as the legendary warriors were with them, no one would fear the Zergs.
However, after they defeated a golden dark one, they finally had caught the dark lord's attention. For the second wave of attack, Moye sent in five golden dark ones and five golden giant Zergs. The city was overwhelmed in seconds, and both legendary warriors were killed while protecting the people. Although the two legendary warriors were able to drag three golden dark ones with them to the underworld, their death had left the humans vulnerable to the savagery of the remaining two golden dark ones.
Even then, the city Lord Song Zhong didn't regret his decision of fighting back. If he had to die today on the battlefield, then so be it.
As the giant Zergs inflicted massive damage to the city's structures, the golden dark one picked off human warriors one after another. Any human warrior who was level eighteen or above was a fair game.
"Brothers, this is a good day to DIE! Charge!"
Two golden dark ones swooped down from the sky. The goal of their mission was to punish those humans who dared to fight back. They need to completely subjugate the humans, both physically and mentally; making them their most obedient slaves and test subjects.
The strongest element in Humans was their will, while the strongest element in the Zergs was their bodies. Moye was eager to find out what the humans would be like if he strained the human body beyond its limit.
Surprisingly, the human warriors inside the city felt no fear for such torture. Fear for death should be the strongest emotion of the humans; however, the defenders of the city charged into the Zerg formation with abandon as if they were seeking death.
Song Zhong and his comrades could have chosen to stay inside the bunker and call it "preserving the green hills." However, if everyone acted like that, the Zergs would never be defeated. Although the two elite human soldiers had paid the ultimate sacrifice, there were at least three less golden dark ones in the world…It was worth it!
As the two legendary warriors fell to the ground, more soldiers rose against the Zerg and continued to carry their banners.
Kom!
A giant Zerg's leg was blown off, and the human soldiers swarmed toward it to finish it off. The Zerg fought back by spitting fire at the soldiers; in a blink, a couple of soldiers were reduced into ashes. However, the rest of them were unflinching as they continued their charge. When they reached the defenseless limping Zerg, they chopped it up into pieces.
Although the Zergs were powerful, they were not invincible. As long the human soldiers fought bravely as a team, they should have a chance of surviving the onslaught.
Although Song Zhong was the highest commander of the city, he fought along with the ordinary soldiers on the ground. While protecting himself with a blade, he watched as his soldiers fell to the ground one after another. Before long, he realized that all of his personal guards were killed, and he was now standing alone on the battlefield.
KOM!
Something knocked his blade to the ground and dealt a blow on his body. He was sent flying by the powerful strike, and before he had landed back to the ground, a dark one kicked him in the head. He heard the crunch when his skull broke, sounding loud as a clap of thunder in his ear.
He was level nineteen, and was still not powerful enough to even make a scratch on the dark one.
KOM!
His body rolled around when it hit the ground. The fractures in his bones were nothing to a warrior like him. However, the death of his soldiers pricked his heart like sharp needles.
What attacked him were two dark ones, who executed a team combo on him which comically, at least to them, resembled the two of them kicking a soccer ball.
When they finally got bored of their plaything, they landed back to the ground. Song Zhong was too weak to be even taken as a test subject, so they killed him outright before they left the city.
Despite their victory, the losses of the three golden dark ones was a huge blow to the Zergs. Unlike the primitive Zergs, dark ones were a rare breed, and breeding one required tremendous resources. It would take the Zergs a while to recover from such losses.
If humans all over the Mars fought half as bravely as Song Zhong did, the Zergs' plan of conquering the human world would have to be sent back to the drawing board. Luckily for them, so far, most human cities had been focusing on defense and avoided conflict.
Song Zhong mustered his remaining strength to open his eyes; he wanted to see what those dark ones looked like so that he would haunt them as a ghost.
One person, then two and three…one by one, they came to him. They were helpless civilians: women, elderly, and children. Their husbands and sons had died at the front line, and now it was their turn to protect their city Lord who had sacrificed himself for them.
As more and more citizens gathered around Song Zhong, forming a meat shield, the dark ones flew back and were shocked by the development. Their goal was to quell the human's will to fight; it seemed that they had failed miserably.
Four Giant Zergs charged at the crowd; if the Zergs couldn't teach humans to fear them, they might as well kill all of them.
The Zergs closed in, but no one moved.
Suddenly, a beam of white light shot at the giant Zergs and the force in the light pressed them to the ground until they were reduced to pulp. A haughty figure stood where the Zergs were killed, wearing a set of shiny armor.
The God of War had answered his believer's prayers.
The other two giant Zergs veered toward the Einherjar and picked up speed. The Einherjar swayed slightly to the left and dodged the attack; meanwhile, he punched at the two Zergs squarely in their heads. The thick craniums of the Zergs was squeezed until it cracked and then shattered. The two hulking frames collapsed to the ground like a rag doll, brain matter splattered everywhere.
In a blink, four giant Zergs were removed from the battlefield forever.
The two dark ones recognized the Einherjar. They swooped down on him while shooting him with hundreds of sharp bone shards. The Einherjar didn't dodge the barrage of shards.
Did it hurt? It didn't matter. It had been centuries since the last time Zachery felt pain. Pain meant war, and therefore, pain was good.
He took one step and flew himself closer to the two dark ones. The two were shocked by the speed at which the Einherjar had approached them. They turned around and shot more bone shards at Zachery.
Zachery didn't dodge either, because he didn't need to. The bone shards were so fragile; they simply shattered as soon as they hit their target.
In a heartbeat, Zachery was right in front of the dark ones. He reached out his oversized hands and grabbed onto the two dark one's heads, one in each hand. The two dark ones struggled to break free from the hold as they kicked their feet and waggled their bodies.
However, resistance was futile.
Zachery kept his hold on the two murderers and looked to the crowd for their opinion on what to do with them.
"Kill!" Someone shouted.
"KILL! KILL!" Everyone joined in.
The pirate king smiled satisfyingly as the head of the dark ones turned into two blobs of mush in his hands. When he landed back to the ground, he picked up Song Zhong and announced solemnly, "In the name of the God of War, I anoint you as the Knight of Onslaught."
Chapter 574: It's Good To Be Alive
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
After Zachery had finished the ceremony, he placed his palm on top of Song Zhong's head. Using his own body as a medium, he started to heal the latter's wounds.
First, Song Zhong felt an excruciating pain as if his body was going to be torn apart. Later, he realized that the pain was from the massive surge of his power. In a blink, his soul energy had reached the legendary level.
When Song Zhong recovered from the pain and fullness in his body, the god of war was already gone, leaving only a golden blade on the ground.
He had officially become the second knight of the God of the War, the Knight of Onslaught.
What humans needed the most right now was not compassion or sympathy: they required the will to kill.
Song Zhong slowly lifted the blade above his head, and everyone cheered his new title.
"Knight of the onslaught!"
The humans never lacked heroes, for when the end of the world finally fell upon them, someone would always stand up and avert the crisis. It had been the Blade Warrior three hundred years ago, and now it was the God of War.
The invincible War God!
People finally heard the calling of the god, and never again would they lose the will to fight. The god had told them that they needed to be more vicious than the Zergs on the battlefield.
When the humans had nothing to lose, they no longer feared the Zergs. The appearance of the War God had inspired the humans to rise up against the Zerg harassment at other parts of the Mars as well.
Although the golden dark ones were powerful foes, they were not invincible. As long as the humans used their intelligence, they would find a way to overcome them.
The Zergs were not immortals; if they bled, they could be killed.
The lower tire primitive Zergs severely lacked intelligence, and were no different from a piece of machine. However, the dark ones were a very different breed. As they evolved more like a human, they had developed a full array of emotions and feelings. And one of those feelings was fear.
The God of War tried to install this powerful primordial emotion into the dark ones, letting them have a taste of fear.
Although Zachery didn't like the name "God of War" nearly as much as Pirate King, he thought that the name was very fitting considering the current situation.
Both Wang Tong and Zachery knew that the problem with the martians' overall state of mind was that they lacked the will to fight back.
The human population on Mars had not wakened up to the fact that this war with Zerg was not the same as the infighting among humans. If they lost this war, the human race would be erased from the universe for good. That included their history, culture, friendship, and love.
Therefore, in this war, humans had to put aside their fear and act more aggressively than the Zergs.
KILL, KILL, KILL THEM ALL!
Zachery knew that such a belief needed to be reinforced in everyone's heart, and he would be more than happy to be the harbinger of the faith.
With every knight he anointed, he had kindled a fire of hope that people could huddle around for warmth and comfort.
…
Meanwhile, on the moon, the humans did not give up their fight despite the increasing pressure. Although the planet was on the verge of a complete subjugation, it was packed with elites. Former students such as Li Shiming, Li Ruoer, Ma Xiaoru, Zhang Jing, Wang Ben, and Hu Yangxuan had all grown up to be seasoned veterans. So far, none of them had given up their fight yet.
In the space, Samantha, Karl, Cao Yi, Lumi, and Flash led the humans last fleet and fought against the Zergs. Despite the lack of resources, they clung onto their unswerving faith in their eventual victory.
The Earth United Front was led by House Li, and the Lunar United Front was led by Zhang Jing. When Patroclus came to the moon, he was greeted by an empty planet, since almost all of the inhabitants had evacuated to Earth. The move had preserved lives of many elite Ivantians soldiers, so that they could continue their fight on Earth.
Ma Xiaoru led her personal units of House Ma and other forces that she had accepted into her ranks over the time. She was the third most potent resistance faction leader on the planet, right after the Earth and Lunar United Fronts. Not only were Wang Ben and Hu Yangxuan elite soldiers under Ma Xiaoru's command, but she also had the unequivocal support from the Templar's court.
Although House Ma's units lacked numbers, they excelled in quality.
"General, general! I have great news! CONFIRMED great news! "Hu Yangxuan beamed from side to side; his face was awash with joy. Although the confederation was a thing of the past, the humans still adopted its military ranking. Ma Xiaoru was one of the generals on Earth.
"Captain Hu Yangxuan, please gather yourself. Otherwise, I will not have faith in your judgment." Ma Xiaoru jested.
"Hu Yangxuan, you are not a kid any longer, so don't act like one." Wang Ben put it.
"Buzz off, you two. Let me tell you the news, and then let's see if you will still be so 'hoity-toity'!" Hu Yangxuan pretested.
"Fine, fine! What is it?" Ma Xiaoru said with a smile.
"Ok, listen up everybody. I am now going to announce the message that we have received this morning. By order of General Samantha, she wishes to congratulate everyone for your brilliant performance during the last battle. She hereby awards General Ma Xiaoru a tier two, Grand Bauhinia Medal." Hu Yangxuan announced solemnly. The military uniform he was wearing and the stubble on his chin and cheek had made him look much manlier than that clean-shaven man-diva he used to be.
"Just get to the point! We knew that already!" Zheng Zhong piped up impatiently.
"The second new was from Mars…" Hu Yangxuan paused for a second and let the suspense hang in the air.
"Hurry the f*ck up! I am going to beat you up if you don't!" Wang Ben's patience was being stretched to its limits as he shouted.
"Alright, alright! The news from Mars says that our friend Wang Tong is very much well and alive. He has already organized a sizable army and is going to deliver a killing blow to the Zergs. " Hu Yangxuan said with animated voice and gesture.
However, no one spoke a word even after he was done announcing the news. Hu Yangxuan was not surprised by this moment of silence; they were simply too excited. Everyone's bond with Wang Tong could not be so easily broken over time. If Wang Tong didn't risk his life to save the soldiers on the Arc, all of them would have been dead in the dark, cold space.
"Congratulations, general." Hu Yangxuan saluted to Ma Xiaoru. In the five years, Ma Xiaoru carried the heaviest burden one could imagine. Wang Tong's disappearance had toughened her up because she knew that the latter would want her to be strong. A crybaby princess from a Great House was not what Wang Tong wanted. Therefore, she carried his banner on her shoulder and continued her fiancé's crusade, a fiancé whom she only met in dreams.
Ma Xiaoru rose from her seat slowly and said with as much calm as she could gather, "Everyone, out! I need to be alone for a moment."
People filed out of the room without asking a question. They had witnessed their love bloom, and also her suffering and transformation. She had been a beautiful princess raised in comfort and wealth; but now, she was a battle-hardened commander.
When the last person left the room and shut the door solidly, tears finally slid down Ma Xiaoru's face.
"You are still alive… Wang Tong…"
The tears of joy and sorrow mixed together, pouring out of her eyes and into her mouth. They tasted bitter, but were still sweeter than the cold night she had spent by herself, wishing for Wang Tong's warmth.
Outside Ma Xiaoru's office, people had already started celebrating.
"I knew it! Boss is a God! How could he be dead? Haha!" That was Karl.
"He will make Patroclus pay for what he had done!"
"Patroclus is nothing! He was defeated by Boss once, and the boss will do it again!"
"Yea!"
"Balls! Why didn't he come back to us?"
"You think? Mars is the only place that allows the boss to carry out his operations. Thank god he is there now. Otherwise, we would have been waiting forever for Michaux and Lie Jian to save us." Hu Yangxuan remarked.
"Is that what it said on the report from Principle Samantha?" Ma Xiaoru opened her office door and asked, her eyes red.
"Um…. yes? I skimmed through the report."
"Yea, I knew it. You are too stupid to talk that smart! " Karl said.
"Wang Tong's reemergence means that we should start preparing for the final counterattack. However, I feel that our priority should not be joining Wang Tong's call for the war, but to preserve our strength." Apache said from a corner.
Everyone was disheveled by Apache's out of character comment. He always had been the firm believer that offense was the best defense. His conservative comment went against the grains of what he had adamantly insisted on.
"Apache is right. Let's say Wang Tong was able to push the Zergs out of Mars. What would Patroclus do then?" Ma Xiaoru's face was lit up with hope. If Patroclus divided his forces to fight at two fronts, the human resistance on the Earth would finally have a chance to eliminate the weakened enemies.
"I agree! That's what the principal wanted too."
"Have you sent out the news?" Ma Xiaoru asked.
"Yes. Both House Li and House Zhang should have learned about it by now." Hu Yangxuan nodded.
In the past five years, they had never been so happy.
"I think we need to go for a drink tonight! "
"I agree! General, let's celebrate tonight!"
Ma Xiaoru smiled and then nodded. "Tonight only."
Chapter 575: Faith
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
"Yes, general."
"Come with us!"
Ma Xiaoru shook her head. She wanted to be alone tonight and reflect on the last five years. When she finally returned her room, she stared at Wang Tong's picture beside her bed, where it had been for five years.
"Jerk! A*shole! " Ma Xiaoru cursed in her mind. She wanted to cry it all out, the loneliness and sorrow of the five long years.
Both Li Shiming and Li Ruoer were stunned when they heard the astonishing news. The elated cheers of their soldiers finally pulled their thoughts back to reality.
After the celebration, Li Shiming finally got a moment to reflect on the development. He marveled at the tremendous influence Wang Tong still had on the human world. In the minds of the public, Wang Tong was their only hope in defeating Patroclus, since he had done it once before.
The heir of the Blade Warrior was invincible. Whether it was real or a self-fulfilled prophecy, no one would ever know. The war against the Zergs was a long-term struggle, only perseverance and tenacity could ferry the human safely to the end of the war,
"Ruoer, are you alright?" Li Shiming noticed a strange expression on her sister's face. Li Ruoer stormed out of the room and didn't even spare her brother a glance.
When she finally arrived at her room, she slammed the door close and produced a picture of Wang Tong from a bedside table drawer. She slammed the framed picture on her bed and shouted, "You a*shole! Where had you gone? You were dead! DEAD!"
The teenage girl had matured, but she was still an Enchantress. Ma Xiaoru, Li Ruoer, and Zhang Jing were the only images that humans could seek consolation and solace in as their feminine faces harbored the spirit of caring and giving.
However, the goddesses of might and power were tearing up now. Ma Xiaoru had a good reason to be carried away by the return of Wang Tong, but what would be her reason?
She had turned down many suitors' request, and so did Ma Xiaoru. However, Ma Xiaoru had done so for a legit reason, while her refusals seemed rather out of the blue. Faced with pressures from all sides, Li Ruoer was on the verge of giving up the wait. But there he was, appearing a few million miles away, well and alive.
She stared at Wang Tong's picture as a mixture of feelings swilled in her heart. Finally, the joyful current took hold of her heart as the negative ones ebbed away.
"A*shole, I knew you would survive." A smile bloomed on Li Ruoer's face. She picked up the picture and pressed it in between her bosom. "If we ever meet again, I will let you have a taste of this!"
Zhang Jing and her lunar units also received the news; however, the joyful feeling in the Ivantians were overshadowed by the guilt of what House Dower had become. Although Wang Tong's survival was exhilarating news to them, they doubted he would be able to overcome Patroclus again after five years.
This was one of Zhang Jing's biggest problem: morale. The Lunar Front had the most powerful units among the human resistance forces, but the soldiers were so shaken by what had happened that they barely had the courage to pick up their weapons. Perhaps, Zhang Jing thought, Wang Tong's return could be a turning point in solving her conundrum. When she first saw Wang Tong on Norton so many years ago, she had never thought that the fate of human race would rest on this innocent, if not naïve, boy.
Till this day, she still remembered Wang Tong's silly smile.
…
Meanwhile in space….
"Commander, the news had been sent out to all major factions." Cao Yi reported to Samantha.
"Excellent! Thank you!"
"You are welcome, principal! Everyone was thrilled when they heard the news. I feel like we finally can see the light at the end of the tunnel!"
"Indeed! We need to give our gratitude to our friends on Mars. They had risked their lives to send us this news."
"I believe he will come back for us, principal." Cao Yi announced firmly. His words carried an unswerving conviction.
Samantha cracked a smile, "Yes, we are all waiting for that moment."
…
The volcano belt at the northern hemisphere of the Mars was an inhospitable wasteland. Not only did humans avoid this area, but also the Zergs. It was sandwiched right in between the human and Zerg territories.
"Boss, two more days and we will finally reach the Zerg area." Duo Lun said.
On this bleak landscape, a patch of tents looked out of place. It was Wang Tong's party; three hundred strong, and included top fighters such as Yin Tianzong and Xiao Yuyu.
"Order everyone to rest well tonight. We won't have the luxury of the sound sleep after we cross the line." Wang Tong smiled and said. Where they were heading would make this harsh environment feel like a comfortable bastion of safety.
Operation Wolf Strike was the name of this mission this time. The three hundred soldiers included the one hundred whom Wang Tong had trained personally inside the crystal space, and the rest two hundred were hand picked by him from amongst the soldiers in Maersa. After they reached the other end of the wasteland, they had to gear up for endless skirmishes.
This operation was the most effective step Wang Tong could take to help the war. His ability at the front line was limited; plus, the constant harassment of the dark ones meant he would have to fight on both fronts.
The raids and harassment used to be the humans' tactics. At the beginning of the war, humans had sent legendary warriors across the front line to the home base of Zergs and attacked them unexpectedly. However, after the Zergs introduced the Einherjar's Band units, these surprise raids came to a jarring halt. Soon after that, dark ones started to appear in human settlements. Everyone had to admit that Zergs were very fast learners.
Wang Tong was convinced that humans did not stand a chance on the conventional battlefield, so he had brought the fight to an entirely different field, where the ground was more leveled on both sides. In order to do that, he needed to take an extremely aggressive stance.
Wang Tong knew that the war would be lost if he sat around and waited for the Zergs to evolve and reproduce in safety. So, he decided to strike back, deep into the heart of their base.
Such heroic actions could not be performed by just anyone; therefore Wang Tong had carefully picked his warriors. Not only they needed to be physically fit, but also need to have an iron will. The small group of men and women were the best Wang Tong could gather. It would be up to them to decide the fate of this perilous operation.
Wang Tong's suicidal mission was the reason that made Lie Jian tolerate his existence. After all, what would be the point of killing someone who might as well be dead?
No one, including Wang Tong, knew what awaited them once they crossed over to the Zerg's side. Some reports had indicated that the golden dark ones were simply middle tier fighters at their home base.
Only one thing they knew for sure was that once they crossed the line, there would be no turning back.
However arrogant Lie Jian was, he could not help but admire Wang Tong's bravery. That being said, if the latter didn't have enough power to back up his ambitious plan, the operation would be nothing but a senseless, albeit glorious martyrdom.
On that note, Lie Jian was convinced that Wang Tong's operation would certainly fail. Even with all the elite soldiers of House Lie joining Wang Tong's cause, the unit would not stand a chance in the Zergs' territory.
"I have already gone over our plan many times, so I am going to keep it brief now. We cannot lose our first fight!" Wang Tong announced firmly. A good start equaled half the success. He wanted to use the very first battle to strike fear into the hearts of the dark ones.
"We need a complete victory!" Yin Tianzong put in.
"No problem! We will teach the Zergs a hard lesson!"
"Very well! Remember, you are no longer humans…You are nightmares that will trample over the Zergs' dead bodies. You are death!" Wang Tong shouted.
…
"They should arrive at the border soon," Aamir said. He was the lord protector of the Maersa City while Wang Tong was gone.
"I admire this youngster! I wish I could join them. "Marcos smiled wryly.
"I know how you feel. But, I am afraid that both of us will only become a hindrance than help." Aamir sighted deeply. Like Marcos, he also wanted to join Wang Tong. However, he knew that his talent was needed in the city.
"Do you think they will prevail?" Marcos asked. Aamir returned the question with another wry smile.
Chapter 576: Siege The Zergs
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
Two days after the incident had occurred in the Divine Mastery City, Michaux had peacefully taken over the Divine Will City. Despite feeling relieved that there had been no unnecessary bloodshed, Michaux lamented how slack the discipline in the Sect had become. Reflecting on the past unruly behavior of his men, it occurred to Michaux that Zhang Guangming had been behind those defiant rulers.
"Brother, brother! Have you heard about what happened?" Susu stormed into Michaux's office.
"Heard about what?"
"Yuyu is following Wang Tong to the Zergs' territory!"
Michaux slowly stood up; he knew he wouldn't be able to keep the information under the cover for long. "Yes. Wang Tong had planned it while ago."
"So, you will send Yuyu to her death?" Susu protested.
"Susu, she joined him willingly."
"Wang Tong is a such a despicable worm! Yuyu liked him so much, and he pushed her into a snake pit!" Susu pouted. Surely, Wang Tong had used his honeyed words to gain Xiao Yuyu's trust and lured her into a death trap. Poor Yuyu! How could she be so gullible? What would three hundred soldiers do at the Zerg home base anyway?
The four chief field medics always treated Susu like their younger sister, and Xiao Yuyu was the closest one to the little girl. No wonder Susu would freak out when she heard that Xiao Yuyu had been sent into a suicide mission.
"Mind your words, Susu Odin!" Michaux slammed the desk hard and rebutted his sister. Susu was startled by her brother's outburst; tears welled in her eyes. Michaux had never raised his voice at her before.
Michaux shot Susu a stern glare and said, "Listen Susu Odin, regardless of the outcome of their mission, they will be forever remembered as hero and heroines of Mars. Xiao Yuyu joined the mission because she knows that this is her duty as a soldier. How could you as the leader of all medics fail to understand that?"
Susu lowered her head and said nothing. This was usually the time that Michaux would lower his voice and tell Susu that he was not really mad at her. However, after meeting with Wang Tong, Michaux took a long hard look at his personality, and realized that it was his constant compromises that had failed the sect.
"Go back to your room and don't come out until you realize what you had done wrong," Michaux said coldly.
…
Danube City was right at the northern frontier of the Zerg controlled territory. Although the Zergs at Danube didn't have to worry about the war, they bustled inside the city, making preparation for the dark ones' raids.
The city lord, Dunluo, had just received verbal praise from the dark lord as he was able to contribute a hundred thousand primitive Zergs to the war against the humans. The dark lord was a wise ruler, at least from Zerg standards. He set clear boundaries and executed his rule to the letters. In order to receive a promotion while working for the dark lord, the dark ones needed to earn enough war achievements.
Since Danube city rarely saw any war, it was hard for Dunluo to rise in ranks quickly. Therefore, he had focused on supplying the dark lord's army with abundant Zergs. The key to increasing the number of eggs the Queen lay was to make sure the queen was well fed. Therefore, Dunluo had to constantly send golden dark ones out to capture humans to feed the queen. He calculated that in a few more months, he would be summoned by the dark lord to receive his first promotion. The promise of rising in ranks made Dunluo's mouth wet.
The older a dark one got, the more he was addicted to his vitality and the feeling of being alive, as he picked up hobbies and new desires. Unlike the primitive Zergs who were content with the way they were born, the dark ones were constantly thirsty for more power. Sometimes, the desire to control and gain more power was so strong that it rivaled Zergs' inborn desire to kill. Dunluo was one of those power-hungry dark ones, and he was not alone.
Kom!
A small boulder fell on top of Dunluo's head. The pain wrenched Dunluo's mind out of his thoughts.
"Who's there!" Dunluo shouted.
Komlommm!
The ground trembled with another blare.
Fearing for his life, Dunluo flew himself up to the sky, and then noticed that his residence had already been reduced into a pile of rubble. Meanwhile, the commotion had alerted the Zergs and dark ones in the city as they gathered around what was left of the residence.
Dunluo rounded his eyes and scanned the surroundings for any culprit. Who dared to destroy the splendid place of Dunluo?
It didn't take long before he sniffed a whiff of human scent. There he was, a human standing right in the middle of the ruins. He smelled extremely powerful, an extra nutritious snack for the queen.
Hold on… Who was this guy? He looked so familiar.
"Rre-yo-Wong Tong?" Dunluo didn't have to speak human language often, so the words didn't come out right. The excitement in him didn't help his pronunciation either. The promise of capturing this human was unbearable. The reward for subduing this human would be more than just another city! Maybe the dark lord would even promote him to become his blood kin!
Wang Tong threw away the heads that he had just freshly picked off the bodies of a few dark ones. "Yes. My name is Wang Tong. I am the one that your dark lord Moye and Patroclus are both looking for." Wang Tong announced in his booming voice.
It had been a while since the dark ones and the Zergs had seen a human face inside of this city. The commotion and the promise to kill had attracted them to close in onto Wang Tong. Upon hearing the name of Wang Tong, these abominations started to become agitated. Some dark ones already threw themselves at him, while the more calculating ones watched the slaughter unfold from afar.
Every dark one knew what it meant to be the one who captured Wang Tong. Desire and greed burned in their eyes, making them look more like the humans than ever.
They need to capture this man at all cost.
Meanwhile, Yin Tianzong had led a small group and sneaked into the city through the mud gate. They quickly took control of a few strategic spots of the city while most dark ones were distracted by Wang Tong.
Dunluo cautiously ordered the dark ones to surround the human warrior. They flapped their bat wings and leered at Wang Tong from head to toe. Dunluo held back the urge to lash out at Wang Tong as he decided to take his time to leverage any advantage he had. He only got one shot, so he had to carefully take it.
"Are you ready?" Wang Tog asked when he saw that he was surrounded by layers upon layers of dark ones. The time was ripe.
He then launched himself into the air with a throng of dark ones in tow, Dunluo leading the charge. Some of the dark ones shot out hundreds of bone shards at their fleeing target. Dunluo shirked and shot an accusatory glare back at his soldiers. The prey was too precious to be torn apart by the bone shards.
Wang Tong curved his lips as lights shot out of his body. He glowed so brightly that the lights had temporarily blinded his pursuers, forcing them to stop. Meanwhile, he unleashed a soul energy attack the defenseless dark ones, killing hundreds of them in one blow. Seeing the turn of events, the more powerful Zergs started to pull back to gain some distance from Wang Tong. The more powerful a dark one was, the smarter he was.
Wang Tong was pleased by the retreat of the high-level dark ones. It told him that they were scared, and fear could be the best weapon against them.
When the effect of the blinding light finally subsided, Wang Tong clapped his hands together and charged up his soul energy. Suddenly, a wild gale blew across the battlefield, clearing the clouds above his head and revealing the gray sky. In a blink, the wild gale grew so strong that it became a shock wave.
This was the special move that Wang Tong had invented for this very moment—Manic Shock Wave!
After the shockwave passed through the dark ones, the pain in their heads rendered them defenseless. Although most other soul energy attacks were not able to harm the dark ones, Wang Tong had improved his attack so that it would make the dark ones feel nausea and dizziness after the attack.
Meanwhile, Guan Dongyang and Xiao Yuyu were weaving a hybrid mastery spell undisturbed. Without Wang Tong distracting the Zergs, the energy from this spell would have caught the dark ones' attention. Not far from them, Yin Tianzong and his unit guarded the casters in case any enemy passed by.
Dunluo was the strongest dark one in the city, and he was the first one to have noticed the other human soldiers hidden at the corner of the city. He sensed that the power in that spell was enough to destroy this entire city. Feeling that his survival was at stake, he conceded that capturing Wang Tong would have to wait. He commanded the rest of the dark ones with a long shriek and flew toward the human soldiers.
Chapter 577: The Most Bloodthirsty Race
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
Wang Tong clapped his hands again and sent out another shockwave. This time, the shockwave was able to stagger even the high lever dark ones.
The Zergs inside the city were all very high in level: the Kamikaze Zergs, the Giant Zergs, and the Tank Zergs. In a few moments, they were able to gather themselves and continue their charge.
Yin Tianzong knew that the casters only had one shot, since the METAL warriors wouldn't be able to hold the line for too long. Leading the METAL warriors, Yin Tianzong formed a human shield in front of the casters.
"KILL!"
They couldn't allow a single Zerg to pass. The success of their operation lay in the spell Guan Dongyang and Xiao Yuyu were preparing. Any disturbance to them would lead to failure, and failure meant death for all of them.
Wang Tong suddenly disappeared and reappeared right in front of Dunluo and blocked the Zerg lord's path.
Dunluo was level twenty-two, so he was able to sense the immense power the spell was gathering. If the casters were able to unleash the spell, they would be able to destroy the entire city and all the Zergs in it.
He could not let it happen!
Dunluo shot hundreds of bone shards at Wang Tong. Meanwhile, his hands had transformed into two drills made out of flesh and bones as he shrieked with an ear-piercing voice.
The shockwaves were extremely taxing on Wang Tong's soul energy due to the large area it had to cover. The potent power of the Zergs meant he needed to crank up his soul energy even further. After two of such high-intensity spells, Wang Tong looked pale. He didn't bring Charcoal or Mr. Wannabe with him, and was all on his own.
If he couldn't even pull this operation off, he would definitely fail while standing against Patroclus.
Butterfly Step!
Wang Tong's power had made this common technique extremely effective. The Zergs that were charging toward Wang Tong were confused by the movements and were unable to locate his position.
Wang Tong punched at Dunluo with abandon. He knew he could not let the Zerg Lord reach the casters.
KOM!
The punch sent an explosion in the sky and the energy traveled through the air, whizzing toward Dunluo. Dunluo was taken aback by Wang Tong's ability to attack with such belligerent force after nearly exhausting his soul energy.
KOM.
The Lord of Danube blocked the attack with both hands. The high-level dark ones such as Dunluo were capable of diverting all of his energy to one part of the body in order to strengthen the attack or defense. Hence, Dunluo was able to block the first attack; however, he didn't know that there was a second, more powerful gush of energy immediately striking after the first. With his guard down, Dunluo was dealt a blow squarely in his chest. The force in the blow was so powerful that it tore his defense into pieces like a piece of paper.
KOM!
Dunluo's body was shattered into hundreds of pieces, and his death rendered the other Zergs panicking. They paused their charge and looked toward the remains of their lord with fears in their eyes.
Seizing the opportunity, Wang Tong plunged himself into the group of Zergs on the ground.
"Everyone, PULL BACK!" Guan Dongyang's voice boomed. He was in charge of the energy gathered from all the other casters. The power burnt like fire inside him, dancing in his eyes; his nickname had never been more fitting for him: the Lord of Fire. He was ready to pull the final trigger of the powerful spell.
Inferno Hell!
Guan Dongyang finally unleashed his full potential. Although he was as talented as Michaux, he had gotten the shorter end of the stick compared to the young master when it came down to education and guidance. Therefore, his talent was largely wasted until he met Wang Tong. The latter's training had given him the key to the treasure cove of the mastery. By now, he could wield different natural energies and bend them to his will.
The hybrid mastery of the fire and wind, for example, had been further refined by Guan Dongyang: by giving the tornado attack a molten core, he was able to transform the elemental attribute of the attack completely.
The ultimate state of fire element attack was reached: the Infinite Scorch!
Infinite Fire, Infinite Heat, and Infinite Kills.
As the molten rocks and fire rained down on the Zergs, Guan Dongyang had finally become the one and only Fire Lord.
Since the spell was an area effect spell, the METAL warriors quickly pulled back to avoid friendly fire. Once unleashed, the fire attack would go out of control, and its damage was indifferent toward enemies or foes.
The Zergs were still unaware that doom was near, so they charged right into the fiery rain. However, they simply melted as soon as the deadly fire touched them. Before dying, they could only let out a wave of agonizing shrieks.
Yin Tianzong and Vorenus linked their GN force with the rest of the METAL warriors and created a GN shield to protect them from the cinders and embers spit out by the storm. The flame was so powerful that they could not afford to lower their GN shield.
After the first wave of the fiery downpour, the second wave quickly followed suit. Seeing the deadliness of the spell, most Zergs started to find shelter instead of charging blindly into the fire rain.
Amidst the fire and smoke, a dark shadow moved about from one dark one to another, killing them in one blow.
The fire seemed to have no effect on the shadowy individual. In a blink, another dark one's head was twisted off its shoulder.
After successfully releasing the spell, the mastery casters collapsed to the ground. This was the first time they had partaken in such an exhausting spell. Overtaken by stress, they had given all of their soul energy to Guan Dongyang. Although the Inferno Hell was deadly, only the dark ones that were situated right in the center of the storm were eliminated. The firestorm was only able to injure or hamper the moments of those away from the center.
However, despite the exhaustion, determination glinted in the caster's eyes. They saw hope in that dark shadow who was busy harvesting the lives of the dark ones while being completely unharmed by the fire attacks constantly raining on him.
The figure was Wang Tong, and he was their last hope.
Wang Tong had unleashed three waves of "soul energy saw" in a row. His face was hard like a rock, expression cold as ice. Using the most effective and direct moves, he finished the lives of the dark ones with incredible efficiency. Slowly, the fire around him died down.
Seeing that there were still a few dark ones who had survived the onslaught, Wang Tong knew that the human warriors should strike now while the dark ones were still weakened by the fire.
Wang Tong threw back his head and shouted a command, "CHARGE!"
The voice carried tremendous soul energy and frightened the remaining Zergs. They looked in his direction skittishly. Another swell of shouts rose from the other side of the battlefield. Wang Tong's warriors had answered his call! Sandwiched in the middle, the Zergs panicked as they were not sure where to run.
Yin Tianzong's hard face carried a great measure of aplomb. As he channeled more soul energy into his blade, he attacked. Duo Lun and Tan Bu charged at the enemy with the same ferocity as a hungry lion out of a cage. The ugly and mean Zergs looked more like sheep waiting to be munched down right now.
KILL! KILL! KILL!
At this moment, the warriors were no longer humans; instead, they were Zerg killing machines.
The battlefield quickly turned into a slaughterhouse. Even the mastery casters joined the onslaught after a very brief respite. One more Zerg killed was one less trouble to worry about for the people in the human world.
The Warriors used their actions to teach the Zergs a hard truth: they were not the only bloodthirsty race in the universe.
Two hours later, the clamor of the war finally quieted down. On the torched ground and amidst the dark smoke and smell of tar, only human shapes could be seen. This borderland city nestled safely behind the front line, a haven for Zerg production, was reduced to ashes.
"Duo Lun, Tan Bu, search for the Queen immediately."
"Roger!"
"Bu Zhihuo, we need more supplies."
"Valentin, set the detonator."
Wang Tong issued a series of commands. They need to completely raze the city to hamper the Zerg's production capability. After their final victory, the humans could spend the time to rebuild the city.
Thanks to the dark one's appreciation for human city design, the warriors knew the queen, the most valuable asset of the city, would be housed at the very center of the city. It didn't take long before they spotted the blob of undulating mass that the Zergs called the Queen. Even now, the ugly worm still industriously lay eggs from a dozen holes on her body at an alarming speed. The wet and icky eggs piled on top of each other; the scene was nightmare inducing.
Ten minutes later, with a series of explosions, this grotesque city along with its morbid queen disappeared in the sea of flames.
While Wang Tong was making progress behind the enemy lines, the Zergs had waged a large scale battle at the human defense. After one day of unwavering resistance, the humans' defense was finally breached, and it forced Lie Jian to order a retreat. He knew his decision meant a huge blow to the morale; however, being outnumbered ten to one, Lie Jian had to preserve the strength of the human resistance and make the strategic retreat.
Both Kaedeians and Zambrotta had also joined the battlefield. Despite their aggressive pushback, they were not able to change the tide of the battle.
As the Zergs poured in through the defense breach, the human forces, mostly comprising of soldiers from House Lie and the Sect, started to pull back. Einherjar Lie Jintian was not only a powerful warrior, but also a brilliant commander and strategist. He knew that Mars was the last hope for the human race, and therefore, he couldn't waste his soldiers on a frontal confrontation with the vastly superior Zerg main force. He needed to preserve the lives of the remaining soldiers and lure the Zergs deep into human territory, then divert their attention and destroy the Zerg force while they were separated. The Zergs were fighting far from their home base; sooner or later, they would be exhausted. In addition, in order to cover the large area behind the front line, the Zergs would have to separate their forces, creating an opportunity for the humans to strike back.
However, the retreat meant a complete devastation for the people who lived near the front line. In one day, a few cities and a dozen settlements were razed to the ground.
The major factions who held large cities started placating their panicking citizens while drafting more young and bale hands into the force. Meanwhile, inside the commander's office of the Mars's united front…
"General, we have retreated for more than fifty kilometers. There have been a few more breaches lately."
"We can't save everyone."
"The Zergs had attacked us by surprise. I am—"
"By surprise? As the chief intelligence officer, you have to be held responsible for your incompetence!" Lie Jian cut Lunduoer short.
"But…I…" Lunduoer panicked and couldn't find any words in his mouth. He didn't think that Lie Jian would be the first to jump at him. Lie Jian was his boss, so in part, it was his fault as well. It seemed that Lie Jian wanted to silence Lunduoer and use him as a scapegoat.
Chapter 578: Strategic Retreat
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
"General, I have been serving your house loyally for years. Please consider all the work I have done for you and spare my life!" Fearing for his life, Lunduoer pleaded with tears in his eyes.
A deadly silence hung in the air of the office.
"Take him out." Lie Jintian waved in dismissal. "I will give you a proper burial for your years of servitude."
A few hulking soldiers came in and dragged Lunduoer out of the office. Regardless of the reason for his mistake, let it be incompetency or carelessness, the damage was done, and it was unforgivable.
Lie Jintian's face was hard as he scanned the generals and captains serving under him with a stern glance. Fearing his ire, no one dared look at him in the eyes. This disaster was certainly avoidable if the human defense were well prepared.
"Let's talk about our situation here. Does anyone have any suggestions? The retreat is a temporary measure; we need to push back." Lie Jintian softened his look and asked. Although he had given up the defensive line in order to preserve strength, he desperately needed a good ploy to slow down the Zergs' push.
"The dark ones are not the immortals…They would either kill or turn the captives into slaves. I think we shouldn't retreat any further. I suggest starting a counterattack at the third line of defense." The Captain of the third regiment, Qin Yin announced urgently. Everyone knew that they would have to fight the Zergs at some point; and since the Zergs were looking for them, they had the advantage of choosing a battleground that suited their strategy.
"Captain Qin, what if we lose again?" The captain of the fifth regiment asked. Fighting the Zergs in an open field meant that the main force of Martian resistance would have to take the brunt of the Zerg attack. If the main force were not able to prevail, the rest of the war would be lost. Without a core army, the Zergs would be able to storm right into the heartland of human-settled areas. None of the minor factions had the might to counter the sea of monsters.
The meeting suddenly reached a block, and all discussions were stalled. There were too many variables in all of the proposed plans, and they were all too risky to execute. After all, the situation they mired in right now was exactly what Lie Jintian had tried so desperately to avoid.
At the crux of the divergent opinions, the differences lied in whether or not to rally a counterattack at the third defensive line. Although delaying the final showdown until the Zergs had crossed the third line of defense was more appealing to most captains, it meant the doom of all the innocent souls behind the line.
"We will stand our ground at the third line of defense!" Lie Jian announced abruptly but firmly. It took more than just courage to make this decision, since if the counterattack went astray, it might be the end of the entire human race.
"Relax! If we are well prepared, we should be able to hold the line long enough to hurt the Zerg." Lie Jian said with a cocksure smirk. Lie Jintian didn't question his son; he knew that without enough evidence, Lie Jian would never make such a bold claim.
"I would like to announce good news. We are able to mass produce the energy crystal guns. The first batch is already under production. We are hoping to start to see these guns in the hands of our soldiers within half a month! This will change things significantly."
The news stirs a swell of surprised murmur. The mass production of the energy crystal gun meant the number of soldiers would be quadrupled. The strength of soul energy would no longer become a restriction in joining the battlefield. Even a helpless granny could turn into a battlefield commando once given an energy crystal gun and a direction to shoot.
"Captain Lie Jian, is this technology reliable?" Someone asked after a few cautious moments.
"Definitely! We had tested the gun many times. This is a research project of Wang Tong."
"Wang Tong?"
Despite the familiarity of the name, no one could remember where or when they had heard of it. Most of the captains were much older than Lie Jian, and had spent most of their life on a battlefield even during peacetime. Therefore, they were less likely to have known Wang Tong than former academy students.
"Was he the one who defeated Patroclus five years ago? The heir of the Blade Warrior?" Qin Yin asked after some time.
"Yes, that's him. He was the one who solved the technical difficulties."
Although Lie Jian didn't want to use Wang Tong and his title to instill confidence into the minds of the generals, he knew he had no other choice. The assembly of the energy crystal gun would take time, and therefore, he would need these captain's unswerving trust in him. As long as these guns hit the battlefield, Zergs' advantage in numbers would be gone.
At this most critical moment, everyone needed to have absolute faith in the operation to pull it through.
As a soldier, he or she could be inspired to fight for various ideologies, such as freedom. But, what could inspire these pragmatic generals? The answer was evidence. Even the most cautious decision maker would be willing to take a risky move if he saw enough hard evidence backing the decision. If the Zergs were to breach the final line of defense, they would be able to affect the production of the energy crystal guns, further hampering the humans' comeback.
It didn't take long before all the captains in the room reached a consensus: they would fight back at the last line of defense unequivocally!
An approving smile flashed across Lie Jintian face. Although he was the absolute leader among these captains, it didn't mean that everyone would follow his order to the letter. At this crucial moment, solidarity was of the essence. Thanks to the last piece of information that his son had hidden so perfectly well, Lie Jintian knew he had gained everyone's wholehearted support.
…
Meanwhile, the Northern warden of Zerg army, Xie Su was riled up by the report coming from his home base. Two cities had been attacked and annihilated. What was worse, no one knew who had done it so far. The loss of these two cities meant a broken link in the supply chain of the primitive Zergs, which made up the bulk of his army.
Xie Su figured that it was not the work of one man; instead, it was that of an entire army. A human army was hiding somewhere behind the front line, within the vast Zerg territory. This was unthinkable!
Despite his anger, Xie Su conceded that he couldn't be distracted by it while he was campaigning against the human resistance forces. This clandestine unit would be caught sooner or later as long as they remained within the Zerg territory. His focus right now should be the imminent final showdown with the Martian resistance. Leveraging his advantage in numbers, he had already pushed the human force to their last leg. After the Zergs had crippled the humans' second line of defense, they had been slowing down the advance as they gathered forces to meet the human forces at the third line of defense.
Meanwhile, the production of Zergs had been working round the clock at maximum capacity to fuel the campaign. The defensive stance along the third line of defense played into Zergs' strength. Zergs had an almost infinite amount of soldiers they could throw onto the battlefield. However, the number of human soldiers was finite. The human soldiers stationed at the last line of defense was the last remaining force in the human world that could ward off a Zerg invasion. Once these soldiers were gone, the end to the human world would be near.
Meanwhile, in the Zerg controlled territory, Wang Tong had ordered his men to make camp in the thicket of a forest.
This was a precious respite. Ever since the special unit had razed Danube to the ground, they quickly reached another city, Kazakh, and razed it to the ground too. The attack had caught the dark ones by surprise, since in the five years, never once had they seen a human set foot in their city, much less a full-on invasion.
Most of the soldiers had hit the hay as soon as they lay down their camp, but Wang Tong had gathered the leaders of the unit to discuss their next move.
The outcome of their raids on the Zerg settlement had proven Wang Tong right in believing that the Zergs was not prepared for an attack from within their territory. Long-term comfort and safety bred contentment in the minds of dark ones as easily as it would in the humans.
Chapter 579: An Audacious Challenge
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
In the minds of most dark ones, it was only a matter of time before the Zergs conquered the humans on Mars. The only reason of the humans' existence was that Moye's pet project needed the humans as test subjects. Once the humans had lost their value, they could be easily wiped out of from the surface of the Mars using only the primitive Zergs. The dark ones didn't even have to get their hands dirty. Over time, divisions and hierarchies formed within the society of the Zerg race. With their superior intelligence, the dark ones reached the top of the food chain. Privileges and entitlement were something that the dark ones had learned from their human side.
"Five METAL warriors and two mastery casters have some minor injuries, while the rest of us are fine." Xiao Yuyu nodded and reported. After two battles, Wang Tong had gained the soldiers' full trust. They had never thought that their attack could be so effective.
Human mind developed a strong cognitive inertia over a long period of evolution. However, sometimes, this inertia needed to be overcome in order to see things from a new and more accurate perspective.
"Don't let your guard down, everyone. The reason we are doing so great is that the Zergs hadn't taken us seriously yet." Wang Tong nodded and then said. He had expected this initial success, and had tried to minimize the casualties. On that note, he was very pleased with the soldiers' performances. Although not everyone on the team was a legendary warrior, they worked as a team and obeyed orders strictly. Therefore, they were able to maximize the damage output while reducing the casualties to the minimum.
The key to overcoming the Zergs was to utilize human's strong suit fully. Mastery was one of those strong suits. Zergs were very good at adapting, and therefore, they were much better equipped to handle conventional damages such as GN force than the newer form of damage type like the mastery spells. Although the mastery spells were fragile glass cannons, by properly arranging the unit composition and formation, Wang Tong had unleashed the caster's power to the fullest.
Most soldiers were sleeping soundly after the two intense battles. They knew that even this brief moment of respite would be a luxury once they had finally caught Moye's attention. However, the leaders of the unit could not sleep yet; they had plans to make.
"Wang Tong, which city will be our next target? If we simply plow through straight ahead, our movement will be too conspicuous." Guan Dongyang said.
Bang!
Lei Xuan knocked Guan Dongyang's head with her knuckles and then refuted, "Are you thick in there? That is what Wang Tong wants!"
Guan Dongyang grimaced and scratched his head. Although his wife had a fiery temperament and the knock on his head hurt like a buttcheek on a stick, he beamed from side to side and chuckled in mirth.
"Most of the war-spoils were food. What should we do with them?" Hamir asked.
"Give them to the soldiers. Let them eat and drink as much as they can." Wang Tong answered without any hesitation. "But, tell them not to squander everything in one sitting. We might have some difficulties getting food in the future."
"Bu Zhihuo, Kong Jie, Lun Duo, and Tan Bu, I want you to hold a meeting with your men and tell them that the real difficulties are ahead of us, so be ready." Yin Tianzong ordered.
The strength of the special unit was in solidarity and effective command chain. Even the smallest hiccup would not go unnoticed.
"Rest assured that our men know that we are all in this together."
Although Wang Tong's soldiers were fearless warriors, it didn't mean that their mental state could always stay stable. Even the slightest concern needed to be taken care of by the captains as soon as possible before it transgressed into something much worse. Having managed the Mars-branch for many years, Yin Tianzong knew exactly what to do and what to watch out for during reduced circumstances.
Wang Tong rubbed his hands in excitement and said, "Alright everyone, we had a good start! Now, the real test begins. Let's take a rest tonight, and we will be on our way first thing in the morning."
The meeting lasted no more than ten minutes; however, it was very necessary.
A few hours later, other than the soldiers who were standing guard for the night, everyone fell asleep very quickly.
…
Boer City was one of the first tier metropolia in the Zerg controlled territory. It was twice as large as Danube, and the number of dark ones alone were in the thousands. Due to its immense size and military clout, it didn't take the northern warden's warning about a small group of rogue human units too seriously.
In the eyes of the city lord B-Linmo, cities such as Danube and Kazakh were both backwater countryside villages. B-Linmo himself was the blood kin of the dark lord, which made his status above all the other city lords. In his mind, only the blood kin were the true rulers of the dark world, and the rest of them, even those low born dark ones, were mere slaves.
As for the human units mentioned in Xie Su's report, he found them almost laughable. If they chose to cause trouble in his territory, Linmo would not hesitate to teach them a lesson. Although Linmo was excited by the promise of killing humans, he was convinced that those humans were cowards, and would only pick on much smaller Zerg villages instead of attacking him.
B-Linmo was enjoying a plate of human delicacies. Over time, he had developed a taste that was as sophisticated as the humans. The enjoyment on his tongue was the most intimate moment with himself, and therefore, he forbade anyone from disturbing him. However, when he about to take the first bite of his favorite entrée, a violent explosion erupted outside his window.
"What is that?" Linmo shouted, annoyed by the disturbance.
A few dark ones fumbled into the room. "My lord, some humans are spotted right above our city."
Wearing a full suit of METAL armor, Wang Tong flew across the city while bombing the buildings below with mastery spells. These buildings were dark ones' labor of love, each one custom designed and exquisitely decorated. Wang Tong took his time while demolishing the buildings. The Boer city was one of the first tier cities, and was much larger than the two cites he had destroyed combined. If he wanted to catch the dark lord's attention, there would no better place to do it in than Boer.
In this metropolis, the stratification of the Zerg society was even more noticeable than in the suburbs. The primitive Zergs and lower level dark ones lived in squalid ghettos and worked the most labor-intensive jobs. They had gotten so used to their peaceful life that the sight of a human attacking the city had caught them off guard.
Some dark ones were quicker to respond to the threat than the others as they took off and flew at Wang Tong. However, with only a couple jabs of the lance, Wang Tong had killed these dark ones easily. Even though he didn't use the Einherjar Lance, he found that the power of a normal lance was more than enough.
Linmo watched as the dark ones fell from the sky one after another. He didn't help his soldiers; instead, he observed Wang Tong's moves intently.
It didn't take long for him to realize who this human was: he was the heir of the Blade Warrior, Wang Tong. He was the person that both Dark Lord and Patroclus were looking for.
He registered that Wang Tong was one of the most powerful human warriors. If he were behind the attacks on Danube and Kazakh, it would make sense how easily both cities were annihilated. Linmo also realized that it was an opportunity of a lifetime for him to capture the most powerful human warrior. Before he made any move, he was interested to see how many dark ones Wang Tong could kill before he started to slow down.
Linmo was too smart to think that he was invincible. He knew very well that the power of a normal human city lord was equivalent to a golden dark one. However, a blood-kin such as himself possessed much greater power than an average golden dark one, and was much smarter than them too. Therefore, he would sit and wait until his minions tired Wang Tong down before he would even consider making a move.
Linmo shrieked and urged the dark ones to attack. The primitive Zergs, on the other hand, stood and watched the fight unfold. When the dark ones were engaged in a battle, the primitive Zergs could only stand by and wait for instructions, as they were considered unworthy to fight alongside members of higher social classes.
Linmo had the Einherjar's Bane Unit at his disposal. His units were able to eliminate human warriors up to level twenty-three. However, he wanted Wang Tong alive.
Wang Tong was well aware of the struggle between the Dark Lord and Patroclus. It was a struggle of two evolutionary branches. The final decision as to which branch to choose for future Zergs was the prerogative of mother supreme alone. There were no rubrics nor guidelines for her assessment. However, both parties knew that the mother supreme cared a lot about the Blade Warrior, since he was the person who had single-handedly stopped the Zerg advancement for three hundred years. Therefore, whoever could bring Wang Tong to the mother supreme would definitely win her favor.
The situation worked in Linmo's favor; if he were able to capture Wang Tong alive, he would rise in power and became one of the A class blood kin generals!
Watching his minions fall from the sky, Linmo didn't feel any remorse for their death. Although the dark ones had evolved the feeling of fear, they were not sophisticated enough to feel empathy yet. In Linmo's eyes, these low-level Zergs were cannon fodder, and it was their destiny to serve him with their lives.
Not only did he not feel bad for the death of his soldiers, but he was also convinced that Wang Tong would be exhausted very soon.