“What’s this, an embrace kill?”
“Lin Zhen has been defeated. Looks like we’re about to unlock a defeat CG.”
In a laboratory that even Zi Jiu couldn’t find, that was exactly where Lin Zhen was.
“Dark Dust is holding him so gently. Feels like there’s something going on.”
[Objective Two: Complete]
Jinsique A’s cold voice rang out on time, without any anomaly due to Yun Ruoxi holding Lin Zhen.
Because this wasn’t her actively wanting to hold him.
Rather, Lin Zhen had lost consciousness and collapsed into her arms.
She was only following orders to “capture” Lin Zhen alive.
After all, a weapon without emotions wouldn’t attack a harmless opponent just because the enemy fell into its arms. It would only complete the “capture” in the most convenient and direct way.
This perfectly fit Dark Dust’s character setting, logically consistent and flawless.
The only suspicious point was at most that surge of star energy she had suddenly raised and then quickly dispersed.
And this tiny change was completely undetectable to Jinsique A.
‘Thank you for your hard work, Ajin brother. I’m holding you as my compensation and apology. Even though there’s armor between us… I hope you don’t mind.’
Yun Ruoxi silently recited in her heart.
Although she had been thinking about pulling Lin Zhen back to the right path and complaining about how obsessive he was toward her, she also knew that the person she owed the most in the world was exactly Lin Zhen.
If not for her appearance, Lin Zhen’s life could have been smooth and happy, without having to endure these five years of torment and madness.
[Detected emotional cold element remaining at 10%, about to run out. Please return to the spaceship with the target immediately.]
In the underlying logic that Dr. Forefinger had written into Jinsique, the current mission was important, but ensuring that Dark Dust was completely safe and wouldn’t go out of control was an even more critical matter.
Therefore, it would rather risk the failure of “Mission One” and have Yun Ruoxi return to the spaceship first to adjust her condition.
And Yun Ruoxi, having “worked together” with Jinsique A for two years, had already anticipated this.
She gently released her hands.
Her telekinesis gently yet steadily supported Lin Zhen, making him float beside her.
Then she looked up at the sky dome.
On the crimson sky dome, there were still more than a dozen gaps of various sizes left by lightning strikes, temporarily not fully healed.
She selected a slightly larger gap.
Yun Ruoxi lifted her toes off the ground, her telekinesis gently surging around her, and ascended toward the sky.
But at that moment.
The entire crimson sky dome collapsed without warning!
Near the outskirts of Luoding City, by the crab wall.
The atmosphere was murderous to the point of nearly solidifying.
A large number of red crabs had been pulled to fill the gaps in the crab wall, and the control center that had been deeply hidden inside was completely exposed.
The thousands of Crab Wall Guards responsible for protecting the control center formed an airtight large encirclement, holding various standard shell weapons.
Inside the encirclement were none other than Zi Jiu and the others who had come with Luo Tuo to request reinforcements.
Zi Jiu gripped her longsword with both hands, holding it horizontally in front of her face.
Scarlet flames climbed from the hilt all the way to the tip, and the star energy metal longsword in the style of a Tang sword instantly became fierce and terrifying.
Aili crossed her hands in front of her chest, and the blood dripping from the wounds on her palms condensed into spinning blood rings around her.
Anvil assumed the stance of the Thousand Star Martial Arts style, star energy flowing, stirring a gentle breeze around him.
The three of them stood back to back, watching their surroundings warily.
Luo Tuo stood not far away, his face full of helplessness and anxiety.
“Captain Bolodi, our companion is still fighting to the death against the enemy to buy time. Even if you won’t send troops to help, at least let us leave.”
Zi Jiu’s voice was icy, her brows filled with murderous intent.
***
Three minutes ago.
They had followed Luo Tuo to this place and reported every detail of the changes in the Dark Swamp.
Only then did they learn that as soon as the alien enemy invasion was discovered, Bolodi had already sent the news back to the Crab Kingdom Military Department.
That side had already dispatched a force led by a National Guardian Crab General, which was rushing to the Dark Swamp by spaceship at full speed.
All they needed to do was hold out for ten minutes until the army arrived.
After learning this, Zi Jiu and the others breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately asked Bolodi to send troops or, as Luo Tuo had suggested, activate the crab wall to go support Lin Zhen.
But who would have thought that Bolodi not only refused them on the grounds that “the duty of the guard army and the crab wall is to prevent the spread of contamination,” but also restricted their personal freedom, not allowing them to go back and help Lin Zhen deal with Dark Dust.
Luo Tuo tried to vouch for them using his identity from the Interstellar Security Office.
Lin Zhen’s spirit of fighting a strong enemy alone and sacrificing himself to cover their retreat had already earned Luo Tuo’s heartfelt admiration.
But it was useless.
The Interstellar Security Office and the Military Department were two completely independent systems from the start.
The Interstellar Security Office was a direct agency of the Empire, while the Crab Kingdom Military Department was the carapace race’s own armed force.
The two had always looked down on each other on ordinary days.
The only reason Bolodi had been willing to give Zachary face before was because of the other’s captain talent and aristocratic status.
But now.
An unknown force had invaded the Dark Swamp, and it was also suspected to be deeply connected with the Security Office.
Not to mention Luo Tuo.
Even if Zachary came personally, Bolodi would not agree to let go of these foreigners of questionable identity.
The reason he had been sent to guard the Dark Swamp was that he always carried out his duties faithfully.
Bolodi had risen through the ranks by fighting from the bottom. How could he be intimidated by Zi Jiu’s aura?
“Until identity verification is complete, no one may leave.”
He raised his hand and waved lightly.
Click!
Thousands of guards raised their shell weapons in unison. Cold gun barrels aimed squarely at Zi Jiu and the other four in the circle, arrows on the string.
“We’re done for.”
“Both sides really have their reasons.”
“From Bolodi’s perspective, Zi Jiu and the others are suspicious characters who suddenly appeared and are linked to the invaders.”
“This is a real pickle.”
Zi Jiu looked around, silently tightening her grip on the sword hilt, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Although the guards’ equipment was not as good as the Security Office’s, kinetic weapons had excessive lethality to begin with.
A single volley would be enough to severely wound them, second-level star power users lacking heavy defense.
If they wanted to forcefully break out, they would have to strike first.
“Xiao Ai, Anvil.”
Zi Jiu’s lips didn’t move, but she spoke in a low breathy voice that only the three of them could hear.
The tacit understanding from years of fighting side by side allowed Aili and Anvil to instantly grasp Zi Jiu’s intention.
Star energy surged secretly around them, ready for a sudden attack.
Luo Tuo, standing nearby, was not stupid.
He looked at the two sides on the verge of conflict and knew a battle was probably inevitable.
He quickly weighed the options in his heart and immediately decided to side with Zi Jiu.
But it wasn’t because of Lin Zhen.
His teammate and captain had been frozen to save him, and their fate was still unknown.
How could he hide here alone waiting for reinforcements!
The situation on the field grew more tense, and any slight movement could cause either side to explode into action.
Just then.
From the central control room, the sudden cry of Bolodi’s personal guard rang out.
“Captain Bolodi!”
“The battle… is over!”
“The enemy… seems to be breaking through the sky dome!”