ABST Chapter 29

[Rain avoidance system activated]

 

[Lightning detection system activated]

 

[…]

 

The spacecraft control room echoed with the system’s gentle voice, steadily avoiding streak after streak of startling thunder.

 

Northwest Sector spacecraft specifications were still a grade lower than the Federation’s. This was also why Lan Xia decided to leave immediately after setting traps at the assembly zone.

 

Lian Yao’s intelligence network was extremely sensitive. When truly mobilized, in less than one night, they’d clearly investigated the first batch of orphans’ locations.

 

They didn’t delay. Deploying elite personnel from various forces—seven spacecraft carrying fifteen hundred people—they directly beat the First and Second Armies, transferring that group of children out.

 

Now that batch of orphans were all in the centermost spacecraft.

 

“Though I don’t know what’s gotten into Emperor Rosh, switching the main force to the Second Army greatly benefits us.” Algiers smiled. “Right time, right place, right people.”

 

They’d safely transferred those children without expending a single soldier.

 

Lan Xia: “Can’t be careless.”

 

“If I could break through, everyone should be more relaxed.” Shou Bing sighed.

 

Over three years, yet he still remained at the Mirror-Breaking stage without any movement. Even training up his physical ability, in large-scale battles, he’d only not drag others down.

 

He… still couldn’t forget when his family had just perished, being trampled by Elansno in the muddy ground of Silicon Blue City, all will to survive gradually, completely extinguished.

 

If he couldn’t get past this hurdle, he felt he’d never break through.

 

Jin Daike comforted him: “Don’t overthink it.”

 

“Where’s Uncle Quan?” She looked around but didn’t see him anywhere.

 

Lan Xia glanced toward the single-occupancy rest room in the back. “He’s in there. Seems like something’s on his mind.”

 

…

 

Inside the rest room.

 

Uncle Quan was writing word by word into his new light-brain the contents of that [Purge Plan] he’d once seen.

 

Shou Bing’s combat techniques and fighting skills were all taught by him. Their relationship was closest. He’d asked about Lan Xia’s strange behavior that day, and Shou Bing, hesitating and stammering, had revealed some things to him.

 

—The Federation he’d pledged loyalty to seemed rotten from beginning to end.

 

If the Hall of Divine Mercy was chilling, then what about this [Purge Plan] in his hands…

 

Was this really something humans could devise?

 

Uncle Quan took a deep breath, left the rest room. Everyone looked over. He silently sat down, saying: “After we rescue this batch of orphans, I’m leaving.”

 

“Leaving? Uncle Quan, where are you going?” Shou Bing reacted most strongly.

 

Lian Yao frowned slightly.

 

Jin Daike also exchanged surprised glances with her brother.

 

Lan Xia’s expression didn’t look surprised. “You’ve thought it through?”

 

Uncle Quan nodded.

 

Staying these three years at Dawn to teach, he’d repaid Dawn’s life-saving grace. This place was full of warmth and hope, the kind that made people helplessly addicted.

 

He should go.

 

Dawn wasn’t a place for someone like him to stay long.

 

As for that [Purge Plan]—he couldn’t figure it out, couldn’t discern it clearly, didn’t know what one person should do, could do.

 

Since that was the case, when he left, he’d hand it over to these people of Dawn whom he thought were very good. The Northwest Sector… wasn’t as fierce and crazed as he’d imagined.

 

Shou Bing stared at him, pressing: “Where are you going?”

 

“When I picked you up, you had no hands or feet left. If you still had somewhere to go, would you have stayed at Dawn for three years? Don’t lie to me, I—”

 

Uncle Quan smiled: “I’m going home.”

 

Shou Bing’s voice cut off abruptly.

 

He pressed his lips tightly together, eye circles gradually turning faintly red.

 

“…Home?”

 

“Home.”

 

This was a reason that would forever leave others unable to voice refusal.

 

Shou Bing asked: “Will you come back?”

 

Uncle Quan’s mouth naturally carried a smile, amiable and handsome. The air of killing refined through three years of peaceful living had transformed into the sediment of years.

 

“Not coming back,” he said.

 

He leaned back slightly, looking at this youth he’d taught for three years, feeling a bit soft-hearted. But if his identity were exposed, would he still show such an expression when facing parting?

 

Shou Bing straightened his back expressionlessly, turned and entered the rest room, slamming the door with a bang.

 

The atmosphere grew awkward.

 

Lan Xia protectively explained for his kid: “Perhaps having lost once before, Xiao Bing values family ties greatly. Instructor Quan, you’ve taught him over three years. In Xiao Bing’s heart, you probably count as half his family.”

 

Uncle Quan sighed softly, standing up. “I’ll go have a proper talk with him…”

 

The spacecraft suddenly shook violently!

 

Alarm sirens immediately blared—

 

Boom!

 

Whether thunder or explosion, a white flash suddenly burst across the command room’s light screen!

 

Lan Xia’s gaze turned cold: “Defense!”

 

Shell tracers cut through the gloomy rain curtain. Before impact, the target spacecraft raised its defense shield, solidly blocking this unpredicted attack.

 

When the command room screen cleared again, everyone’s hearts sank slightly.

 

Though they’d imagined this scenario, when it truly arrived, they couldn’t help their hearts tightening.

 

Algiers said in a low voice: “They came fast.”

 

Torrential rain poured. Black clouds churned like ink.

 

Before them blocked two small warships and four medium warships arranged in a line.

 

The other side.

 

Wright looked at the intact opposition, somewhat dissatisfied: “Struck a few seconds early.”

 

Elansno offered no comment. Just reaching mealtime, Nie Liang set out his usual food on the table. He quietly ate, thoroughly ignoring everyone else.

 

Amid the tense atmosphere, it seemed incomparably jarring.

 

Wright felt stifled: “Admiral, if we can’t complete the task His Majesty gave us, even though the First Army is only auxiliary, won’t you still be punished?”

 

Usually, as long as he brought up His Majesty’s name, no matter what Elansno was doing, or even if he wanted to kill him, he’d immediately stop.

 

Elansno frowned. “His Majesty’s orders, I naturally…” The trailing words died in his throat. His fingers paused, eyes widening slightly.

 

His Majesty’s orders… so what?

 

Having the First Army be auxiliary—wasn’t it natural that the Second Army put in the effort? Even if they really didn’t snatch back that batch of children, what did it matter?

 

What did it have to do with him, Elansno?

 

This thought was extremely faint.

 

Yet he found it novel, as if he’d never before thought in this ‘defiant’ direction.

 

That familiar pain he’d experienced thousands of times over the past three years appeared again in his mind. Elansno was already accustomed to this pain, didn’t find it unbearable.

 

He momentarily spaced out.

 

Wright resolved that after returning this time, he’d file a complaint against Elansno. He turned to order the command room: “Open the warships! Prepare for battle!”

 

Under the rain-filled sky, fully equipped Second Army soldiers charged from the warships, rapidly attacking.

 

Algiers ordered: “Engage!”

 

Lan Xia: “Split off a team, protect the children in the middle spacecraft!”

 

Warriors from the Northwest Sector also emerged from the spacecraft, fighting with Second Army people. In a blink, the rain curtain transformed into hell with killing cries shaking the heavens.

 

Someone riding a flight device fell from the sky, head smashing against sharp rocks, dying with eyes wide open.

 

The Northwest Sector split off one spacecraft to protect the children, while the rest all tangled with the Second Army’s warships in the air.

 

Shou Bing had already emerged from the rest room, saying calmly: “Algiers, Teacher, I’m going down. Not everyone below is from Dawn. They haven’t had formal training. Without someone leading them, they’ll die easily.”

 

His combat suit’s firearms and ammunition were fully stocked, a cold weapon hung at his waist. He was completely different from three years ago.

 

Lan Xia’s golden pupils were calm. He nodded: “I’ll go with you.”

 

“Don’t try to stop me.” As if knowing what the others would say, Lan Xia interrupted preemptively. “Algiers, you command the spacecraft battle. I guarantee, as long as nothing goes wrong up here, nothing will happen below either.”

 

“…Okay!” Algiers gritted his teeth, decisive. “Elansno hasn’t shown himself yet. Bing-ge, you must watch out for Teacher’s safety!”

 

Shou Bing: “Don’t worry.”

 

This time Lan Xia didn’t leave the seed at Dawn, but brought the flowerpot along. After that last incident, he’d cared for this seed to the point of meticulous detail.

 

His steps paused slightly. He still took the seed from the flowerpot, carefully placing it in his chest pocket.

 

Storage space couldn’t hold living matter. Unable to guarantee absolute safety even on the spacecraft, he preferred keeping this seed on his person.

 

After securing it, Lan Xia nodded toward Uncle Quan. A layer of pale purple radiance floated across his body surface.

 

He pulled open the cabin door. Outside wind and rain carrying thick moisture poured in. His windbreaker instantly whipped violently in the gale.

 

Ammunition exploded amid thunder. Under the gloomy sky bloomed blood-red flowers.

 

Cold raindrops, even through the mental power layer, pressed against the slightly pale skin of his face, seeping in coolness.

 

Lan Xia squinted. The golden thin frame of his glasses was illuminated by flickering lightning. His fingers gripped the cabin door—he leaped down!

 

Shou Bing secured his flight device, following close behind. Blue tail flames traced two long arcs.

 

Algiers closely monitored changes in the command room, but movement came again from behind. He turned to look.

 

Uncle Quan, who never participated in any battles, now also wore combat gear. He’d tied up his messy hair. That smiling face was completely exposed.

 

Algiers: “Uncle Quan?”

 

Uncle Quan stood at the cabin door’s edge, turning back. The emotions in his eyes churned richly. Look carefully though, and it seemed calmly empty.

 

He said: “This may be my last battle. I want to meet someone.”

 

Uncle Quan also left.

 

When he aimed his gun at Second Army soldiers, he suddenly realized—he’d actually already made his choice.

 

——

 

Lan Xia’s entry undoubtedly greatly relieved the Northwest Sector’s pressure. Correspondingly, Wright, distracted, was seized upon by Algiers who destroyed two warships.

 

“Damn it!”

 

Wright cursed under his breath. He turned: “Elans…”

 

Then froze.

 

The person who’d just been sitting at the table eating had already vanished without a trace.

 

…

 

Atop the chaotic rocks.

 

Thunder gradually retreated, but rain fell even more densely.

 

Elansno quietly watched the chaotic battle below. He hadn’t released mental power. His silver-white hair in the rain mist seemed hazily suffused with a blurred radiance.

 

Nie Liang wore white gloves, standing silently behind him holding an umbrella.

 

“He’s strong.” Elansno suddenly spoke.

 

Nie Liang startled, following his gaze.

 

Actually very easy to find—that vast, sharp purple mental power—

 

The Northwest Sector’s newly emerged S-level evolver.

 

Nie Liang caught that golden-eyed man’s profile, paused, then his gaze sharpened. This person… the feeling he gave, including his build, was somehow similar to the Admiral.

 

“I remember him. He’s called—”

 

Elansno gazed at that figure below, softly calling: “Lan Xia.”

 

This nearly murmuring voice couldn’t even pierce the rain curtain. Yet Lan Xia, amid countless chaotic noises, suddenly looked up. The gaze beneath his lenses was extremely bright, precisely locking onto Elansno’s position.

 

Eyes met.

 

Elansno smiled: “Nie Liang, get far away.”

 

**

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