The room fell silent, all eyes turning to Mors.
"The princess's actions may be reckless, but they are calculated. She is not some naive child running headlong into danger. She's a strategist, and she believes this is the only way to ensure the safety of those students and the integrity of our mission."
His gaze hardened. "That being said, we cannot stand idly by while she risks her life. I volunteer to lead the rescue operation myself."
"But Major General..." began an advisor, only to be silenced by Mors's glare.
"Time is of the essence," he said firmly.
"The longer we wait, the more danger she faces. I will take the fastest fleet and my most capable team to extract her. The joint military entrance examination has already been compromised. It must be stopped immediately and rescheduled."
A murmur spread through the room as officials nodded in agreement. The head of the royal council leaned forward, his voice weary but resolute.
"Major General Mors, the task falls to you. Do whatever it takes to bring her back safely."
As Mors left the chamber to prepare for the mission, the tension lingered.
Everyone knew the stakes were more than just the princess's life, it was the hope of the galaxy, teetering on the edge of triumph or tragedy.
-
Ahcehera opened her eyes, her breathing steady despite the intensity of the situation. She felt a wave of exhaustion but masked it with her usual calm.
"Syverian," she said firmly, her voice echoing faintly in the hollow space, "let's get out of here immediately."
The core of the veins began to harden, its once pulsating surface now losing its glow. The vibrant, lifelike texture dulled, little by little turning into a rigid, stone-like structure.
Though the change was subtle to the untrained eye, Ahcehera felt the life draining from the network with every second.
Syverian, swift and efficient, began navigating through the tunnel. Its powerful limbs propelled them forward, avoiding falling debris as the cavern started to destabilize.
The eerie silence was punctuated only by the occasional groan of shifting earth. The viewers, watching intently through the princess's broadcast, grew restless.
The screen showed only the mecha's rapid movement and the shadows of the collapsing tunnel, leaving them in suspense.
[Why did she leave so suddenly?]
[What's happening? Did something go wrong?]
[Wait! Look at the veins!]
As the camera shifted back toward the tunnel entrance, the viewers saw what Ahcehera had felt.
The once living veins, illuminated by flowing essence, had turned dark and brittle. Their light extinguished like a dying star.
Cracks formed along the hardened surface, and soon, chunks of the tunnel began to fall away, disintegrating like dry soil.
The chat exploded with reactions.
[Did the princess do this?]
[This is insane! She's collapsing the Zerg's lair!]
[Look at the size of those veins, how powerful is she?]
[She's still calm. How can she stay so composed in a Zerg lair?]
Ahcehera landed safely outside the tunnel, taking a moment to catch her breath as she glanced back at the fallen structure.
The ground rumbled slightly before settling into an eerie stillness.
Syverian broke the silence. "Mistress, there are still several hundred tunnels left. What should we do?"
Ahcehera's gaze was sharp, her mind already racing through calculations. She straightened her posture and replied with quiet determination, "Propagate the blood."
The viewers fell silent for a moment before the stream chat erupted again.
[What does she mean by propagating the blood?]
[Wait, does she have more of that special blood she used earlier?]
[Isn't she draining herself too much?]
[How is she still thinking of strategies? I'd be panicking!]
Meanwhile, the princess calmly opened a compact meal box, one filled with an unfamiliar, nutrient-rich dish. She began eating while reviewing the data collected from Syverian.
The viewers were stunned.
[Is she seriously eating right now?]
[Wait… what's that food? I've never seen it before.]
[She's in the middle of a Zerg lair, and she's having a meal?]
[Forget the food, look at the data she's analyzing! Is she running experiments, too?]
Speculation spiraled as scientists and military experts tuned into the stream, debating whether Ahcehera's composed demeanor was a sign of genius or recklessness.
Some questioned her true role in the military, suggesting that her knowledge and skills went far beyond that of a strategist.
[Could she be a secret scientist?]
[Her understanding of Zerg biology is unbelievable.]
[If she survives this, she might be the key to ending the Zerg threat!]
Ahcehera paid no attention to the chaos she'd stirred in the interstellar community.
"Mistress, the blood is ready," Syverian's smooth, metallic voice echoed in the tense stillness.
Ahcehera turned her gaze to the half-filled bag of blood that she had set aside earlier. The crimson fluid gleamed faintly under the dim light, a potent mixture of risk and hope.
Beside it lay the chemical agent she had meticulously prepared, designed to propagate the blood and amplify its effect.
The viewers watching the stream were in a frenzy of confusion and awe.
[What is she doing now?]
[Wait, is she planning to use that blood again?]
[How did she prepare a chemical agent so quickly?]
Ahcehera ignored the speculation, her focus unshakable. "Syverian," she said, her tone steady, "protect me while I experiment."
"Yes, Mistress," Syverian responded, its sensors scanning the surroundings for potential threats.
The mecha positioned itself strategically, shielding Ahcehera while its weapons remained primed for action.
Ahcehera wasted no time. She pulled out a portable lab kit from Syverian's storage compartment, its design boasted advanced interstellar technology.
She carefully connected the blood bag to the apparatus, which began infusing the chemical agent into the blood.
As the liquid swirled and changed hues, Ahcehera monitored the process with sharp, analytical eyes.
The viewers were stunned, their astonishment reflected in the flood of comments.
[She's seriously experimenting in a place like this?]
[Doesn't she know how dangerous it is?]
[Wait… is she eating?]
Sure enough, Ahcehera, unbothered by the perilous surroundings, reached for a small energy bar from her meal kit and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully as she adjusted the apparatus.
Her calm demeanor stood in stark contrast to the ominous atmosphere of the Zerg lair.