The development of the Lishi Star base entered the fast lane.
The roar of factories, the shouts from training grounds, and the sounds of spaceships taking off and landing from various starports intertwined into a symphony of vitality and hope.
Although the external threat of the Great Old Ones still hung like a Sword of Damocles, the thriving internal scene gave everyone a rare respite and confidence.
And amidst this hustle and bustle, a particularly eye-catching spectacle was unfolding.
Female leader Ruijia's passionate and direct pursuit of Mark Grayson, known throughout the Alliance, was in full swing.
With the strategizing of several female core members from different races, who proudly called themselves 'love consultants,' Ruijia's actions were grand and undisguised.
Today, she might carry a giant star beast she had just hunted, enough to feed the entire command center for three days, and throw it boldly at Mark's feet, declaring it a sharing of spoils.
Tomorrow, she might, under the guise of sparring, attempt some close physical contact combat techniques on the training ground, which she considered intimate, though Mark instinctively parried her every time with standard defensive moves.
The day after tomorrow, she even tried to mimic some civilizations by making a gift for Mark out of crude animal hide and fluorescent minerals.
Mark studied it, thinking it was some new type of armor material, and promptly handed it over to the logistics department for analysis.
Almost the entire Alliance was watching this rare drama of a woman pursuing a man with great interest.
It became a much-needed diversion in the tense war atmosphere.
Discussions were everywhere, in the mess hall and lounge areas.
"Hey, what new trick do you think the leader will use today?"
"If you ask me, Lord Mark is too slow!"
"Exactly, exactly, the leader is so great, so powerful and straightforward!"
"Perhaps Lord Mark doesn't like this type?"
Not only Ruijia's advisory team, but even some people around Mark joined the matchmaking efforts.
The head of the Science Department, the silent black-armored beetle, Iron Shell, would occasionally, when reporting on work, inadvertently mention that Leader Ruijia had stayed up late again for a certain project.
Some warriors rescued by Mark would scan back and forth between the two with eyes full of admiration and expectation.
Even White Lion, though verbally mocking Mark as an 'alloy straight man,' would occasionally grunt and wink at Mark when Ruijia brought food, though this wink was essentially thrown at a blind man.
However, our protagonist, Mark Grayson, responded to this in a way that perfectly exemplified what it means to be an 'iron straight man' and 'complete defense.'
He interpreted all of Ruijia's actions in an incredibly reasonable and logical manner.
Sharing spoils?
Internal resource redistribution within the Alliance, with the leader setting an example.
Frequent sparring?
Leader Ruijia's warrior spirit erupting, eager to improve her strength; this is a good thing and must be supported.
Giving gifts?
Testing new materials, requiring the logistics department to evaluate performance.
Hints from those around him?
Everyone's concern for the leader and their expectation for Alliance unity; the atmosphere is very good.
He even once very seriously told the Nurgle female consultant who came to spy on military intelligence:
"Please tell Leader Ruijia that I have always admired her fighting spirit and dedication to the Alliance."
"If she is worried that I will have a rift over power distribution issues, please reassure her that I have no interest in that; our only goal is to fight the Great Old Ones."
This 'iron declaration' almost made the bubbles on the Nurgle lady's body solidify in anger.
When the news reached Ruijia, the female leader, who could tear apart the Great Old Ones' minions with her bare hands, felt a deep sense of powerlessness for the first time, and an urge to crack open someone's head with her scepter to see what structure was inside.
Just when everyone was greatly troubled by Ruijia's romantic progress, or rather, lack thereof, and even began to wonder if Mark's physiological structure was missing the 'love' module.
A piercing emergency alarm suddenly blared throughout the entire Lishi Star base!
It wasn't a regular combat alarm, but a highest priority 'lost contact distress signal received' alarm!
Inside the command center, the atmosphere instantly shifted from the previous casual banter to one of extreme gravity.
Technicians nervously operated their equipment.
"Report! Received the last intermittent distress signal source from Spearhead Squad, coordinates K-77 Star Sector, abandoned mining planet Sui Xie (Debris)!"
"Signal content incomplete… encountered… unknown… attack… unable… to evacuate…"
"Spearhead Squad signal lost! Last life signal feedback time was 10 standard days ago!"
"Exceeded agreed return time by 7 days!"
"Spearhead Squad is missing?"
Ruijia's brows instantly furrowed, all personal emotions were suppressed in an instant, and she reverted to her decisive leader persona.
This squad was an elite rapid-response team of the Alliance, responsible for reconnaissance and sporadic rescue missions around the K-77 Star Sector, experienced and strong in combat.
"Immediately dispatch the Second and Fourth Reconnaissance Squads, aboard high-speed reconnaissance vessels, to the K-77 Star Sector! Maintain the highest stealth level, with the primary objective of searching for traces of Spearhead Squad and assessing the threat!"
Ruijia quickly issued orders.
The orders were carried out immediately.
However, one day, two days, three days…
A full ten days passed.
The two reconnaissance squads sent out also vanished like stones sinking into the sea, sending back no information, not even the preset timed safety signals!
An ominous premonition enveloped everyone in the command center.
Although the K-77 Star Sector was remote, according to previous intelligence, there should not have been Great Old Ones' power capable of so cleanly eliminating three elite squads.
Mid-level officers turned pale, reporting the situation layer by layer until it was finally presented to Mark, Ruijia, and White Lion.
"Annihilated?"
White Lion Grom snarled, his crimson pupils filled with ferocity.
"How could no message get back? Unless…"
Unless the enemy had premeditated, possessed overwhelming power and… information-shielding capabilities.
Mark's face was calm, but his eyes had become incredibly sharp.
"Prepare the spaceship, I'm going myself."
Whatever was there, it had to be investigated.
This eerie silence was more unsettling than a direct attack.
Just as Mark was preparing to depart.
"Report! Receiving a… high-intensity, unencrypted public video communication request from the K-77 Star Sector!"
"Signal source… signal source marked as Spearhead Squad flagship!"
The communicator's voice trembled with disbelief.
"What?!" Everyone in the command center was stunned.
The spaceship missing for over ten days suddenly initiated a video communication?
"Connect it! Immediately! Put it on the main screen!"
Ruijia snapped.
The main screen flickered with static, then instantly stabilized.
However, what appeared on the screen was not the members of Spearhead Squad at all!
The background of the image seemed to be above a barren planet; under the dim sky, a figure floated there.
When they clearly saw that face, everyone in the command center who knew him, including Mark and White Lion, their pupils constricted sharply!
That was… Trigg!
The former Supreme Speaker of the Alliance, the traitor, the lackey of the Great Old Ones!
But… something was wrong!
The Trigg before them looked even more intact than when he betrayed them!
He wore an extremely unsettling smile on his face, a mix of arrogance, cruelty, and madness.
Most chilling of all, his originally severely injured and crippled arm was now perfectly intact, and even looked… more powerful.
However, this was just the beginning of the shock.
The camera slowly pulled back, revealing the scene behind Trigg…
Inside the command center, a collective gasp of cold air instantly rose, and some even couldn't help but let out terrified screams!
Behind Trigg, in the sky, countless figures floated densely!
Hundreds? No! Tens of thousands!
And every single figure looked exactly like the Trigg in front of the camera!
Countless Triggs, dressed in uniform, dark attire with the corrupt style of the Great Old Ones, with the same bizarre smile on their faces, floated silently in the air, like a clone army awaiting inspection.
The scene was utterly bizarre and terrifying!
And the Trigg in the center of the screen was casually holding something in one hand.
It was the dead, unblinking head of the Spearhead Squad captain, blood still dripping from the severed neck.
"Yo-ho, connected?"
The Trigg on the screen tilted his head, revealing an exaggerated smile, as if greeting an old friend.
"Let me see… Hmm, Mark Grayson, my dear old friend, you must be watching behind the screen, and that… poor useless big white cat?"
His voice came through the loudspeakers, carrying a grating sneer and distortion.
White Lion instantly let out an earth-shattering roar!
The terrifying sound wave even made the equipment in the command center hum!
"Trigg!! I'll tear you to shreds!!!"
"Tsk tsk tsk… Still so volatile."
Trigg, as if he could hear, sneered and shook the head in his hand.
"Is it because I helped you clean up those contaminated, filthy tribesmen that you hold a grudge against me?"
"Don't forget, you were the one who… personally took me to your home planet, you're the biggest hero! Hahahahaha!"
Words that pierced the heart!
Striking at White Lion's most painful, most unhealed scar!
Grom went completely mad, struggling to pounce at the screen, but Mark held his shoulders tightly, the immense force even slightly deforming the metal floor beneath Mark's feet.
Mark's eyes were as cold as ancient ice; he stared at Trigg on the screen, saying nothing.
Trigg had laughed enough, casually tossing aside the head in his hand, then the camera shifted, pointing to the ground below.
There, the survivors of Spearhead Squad and the two later reconnaissance squads were tightly bound by purple-black, living-like tentacles, kneeling in a row, all wounded, their faces filled with fear and despair.
"Watch closely, Mark."
Trigg's face returned to the center of the screen, his smile turning cold and cruel.
"I know you must be in that rat hole on Lishi Star."
He shrugged, his tone dismissive.
"But, so what? I'll tell you plainly, I'm right here, waiting for you on Sui Xie (Debris) Star."
He extended a finger and tapped the screen.
"You, come alone."
"If you don't come…"
His voice suddenly turned sinister.
"Every hour, I will kill one of your people in front of everyone in the universe who can receive this signal, until they are all dead."
"If you bring others, or play any tricks… I will immediately turn all of them into food for the lowest Great Old Ones' worms!"
"Choose, my dear Viltrumite."
Trigg's smile was filled with extreme malice and jealousy.
"Will you hide in your shell, watching your heroic reputation collapse, watching these poor wretches die because of you and wail?"
"Or… will you come to your death like a true hero? I eagerly await your choice, you know?"
"After all, you're always so… righteous! Hahahahaha!"
The communication was abruptly cut off amidst a burst of ear-piercing maniacal laughter.
The main screen plunged into a dead, silent darkness.
Inside the command center, you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden, incomprehensible horror and blatant provocation.
Countless Triggs… hostages… an open conspiracy…
"You can't go!"
Ruijia was the first to react, grabbing Mark's arm, her voice more anxious than ever before.
"This is definitely a trap! Those… those monster-like clones! And the Great Old Ones must be lurking around! Going alone is suicide!"
"That's right!"
Other core members also reacted, eagerly trying to dissuade him.
"Lord Mark! Sacrifice is unavoidable! You cannot let the entire Alliance lose you for a few people!"
"We can try to organize a rescue team! But you cannot go alone!"
"Those few people… just consider them martyrs!"
Some even said cruel but realistic words with pain.
"Let me go! I'll kill that bastard!!"
White Lion was still in a furious state, struggling wildly.
Mark was silent.
He slowly, yet firmly, pried open Ruijia's hand gripping his arm.
His gaze swept over the desperate faces of the captured warriors, frozen on the screen, then over every anxious, fearful, or expectant face in the command center, waiting for his decision.
He knew Ruijia and the others were right.
This was a hundred percent a trap.
Behind those countless Triggs, the terrifying power of the Great Old Ones must be hidden.
Going alone would be a near-certain death.
But…
He had built the Alliance's reputation, he had established laws emphasizing unity and sacrifice, he had become a beacon of hope in the eyes of countless people…
If he chose to abandon those people now, no matter how valid the reasons, the newly forged belief and trust would suffer an irreparable rift.
Moreover, those were dozens of living lives, warriors who trusted him and followed him into battle.
And… Trigg.
One of the instigators of everything, he must pay the price, and those bizarre clones must be understood.
Mark took a deep breath, a determined glint flashing in his molten gold pupils.
He held down the almost-berserk White Lion, his voice calm yet carrying undeniable power.
"White Lion, calm down, you stay here and protect the base, that's an order."
Then, he looked at Ruijia and all the core members.
"I know it's a trap, I know it's dangerous, but I have to go."
"The spirit of the Alliance is not a survival bought with sacrifice, but the responsibility to fight for every member, even knowing the danger."
"What's more…"
Mark's lips even curled into a cold arc.
"It's not certain who the prey is yet."
He said no more, turning and striding towards the hangar.
Leaving behind him a silence, and Ruijia's complex gaze, mixed with worry, despair, and an uncontrollable, deeper emotion.
A small, high-speed assault ship, enhanced with stealth capabilities, quietly departed from the Lishi Star port, heading resolutely towards the death trap named Sui Xie (Debris).
-------------------------------
I've pre-posted chapters on Patreon!
If you like, please come check out the latest chapters first.
Here's the link:
[[email protected]/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!