ABST Chapter 34

Only after boarding the spacecraft and leaving far behind did Nie Liang speak: “Is Mr. Lan Xia the Admiral’s relative?”

 

Elansno’s pupils contracted. He suddenly looked over.

 

Nie Liang poured him a cup of hot water to warm his hands.

 

“That sentence you said before leaving, plus the similar feeling you both give me.” He raised his eyes. “I’m guessing—he’s the Admiral’s brother?”

 

…

 

Inside the soul sea.

 

Gong Du: “I’m shocked. Is Nie Liang part dog?”

 

This diverged from his script!

 

Under normal circumstances, Nie Liang should still be waiting for news from the crawler right now.

 

Small light orb: “Can’t be helped. You control Lan Xia through your split soul. Essentially still you. Nie Liang’s method of recognizing people is peculiar. Not strange he sniffed it out.”

 

So still part dog, then.

 

Nie Liang staying by his side was absolutely a variable disrupting his script.

 

Gong Du changed expression: “I need to send him away.”

 

Small light orb: “?”

 

Gong Du thought about his script combined with the world line. Inside, he’d utilized every character’s original ending thoroughly, including Kang Quan.

 

At Nie Liang’s part, Gong Du modified it slightly.

 

Anyway, didn’t need this guy much later. Send him away first, lest he interfere with important matters.

 

“Modified!”

 

Small light orb: “???”

 

It swore—Gong Du was the trashiest failing student it had encountered since birth.

 

…

 

The cup in his hands continuously transmitted warmth to his palm.

 

Elansno didn’t speak for a long time. Just when Nie Liang thought he wouldn’t answer, he finally heard a soft: “…Is it that obvious?”

 

Admitted it.

 

Nie Liang’s heart tightened.

 

He’d actually only relied on intuition.

 

He considered carefully: “If that’s the case, why not directly acknowledge him?”

 

Elansno smiled: “How to acknowledge?”

 

“In Brother’s eyes, I’m a younger brother who died over a decade ago—clean and innocent. The current me has hands stained with innocent blood, committed overwhelming sins.” He said flatly, “Go ask—whether in the Federation or Northwest Sector—how many people pray day and night for my death.”

 

Nie Liang argued: “But you clearly didn’t remember anything before. If Mr. Lan Xia knew…”

 

Elansno: “Even if I didn’t remember, those people still died by my hand. Still killed by me. No difference.”

 

The spacecraft returned to the First Army.

 

Nie Liang was still conflicted.

 

Frankly, he didn’t understand this complex emotion. For him, if you liked someone, pursue them. If you admired someone, work hard. If you disliked someone, eliminate them directly.

 

Yet he grasped it somewhat. Like when he touched the Admiral, he’d always wear clean white gloves. The Admiral wanting to acknowledge Mr. Lan Xia probably also wanted to present himself in a completely clean state.

 

No wonder… when the Admiral was in Dawn, he preferred wearing white clothes.

 

Substituting and replacing—little mad bird seemed able to understand.

 

Immediately began feeling heartache.

 

He asked: “Then what can I do for you?”

 

Gong Du planned to trick him away, saying: “I plan to confess to Brother after overthrowing the Federation. But feel like I’m missing a gift.”

 

Nie Liang said without hesitation: “You can tell me. I’ll prepare it.”

 

Gong Du suppressed that indescribable guilt in his heart, saying: “Legend says in the Far North Sector’s snowfields, there’s a purple ice crystal stone. Under sunlight, its surface reflects gold. Very precious, but no one’s seen it in a long time.”

 

“I plan to carve it into a flower for Brother. Just the round trip will probably take several months. I want you to go.”

 

Previously, Nie Liang would naturally agree immediately. But now with battle imminent, he was somewhat worried, hesitating: “Admiral…”

 

Gong Du said: “This is the first time I’m seriously entrusting you with something. Right now, among people I trust, aside from Kane, it’s you. Don’t tell anyone about this.”

 

Nie Liang: “!!!”

 

He felt his feet starting to float. His entire being soaked in warm water, intoxicated.

 

He nodded: “I’ll definitely bring back what you want!”

 

Gong Du patted his shoulder with satisfaction: “When you return, you’ll hear news of victory.”

 

Nie Liang always firmly believed this, smiling: “Victory will always belong to you.”

 

The Admiral said he trusted him.

 

The Admiral even patted his shoulder.

 

Perfect. This piece of clothing—after returning, hang it up immediately. Can’t wash it.

 

Purple ice crystal stone that reflected gold under sunlight—

 

Really suited the Admiral and Mr. Lan Xia.

 

Worthy of the Admiral. Even the gift he thought of for someone else was so exquisite and unique.

 

After he brought it back, the Admiral would surely be very happy.

 

When the Admiral was happy, he was happy.

 

——

 

Nie Liang left.

 

And the battle between Northwest Sector and Federation officially began.

 

War spread rapidly. The First Army’s defense line was like tofu—every time, weak points were precisely found and swiftly breached.

 

The Northwest Sector, led by Dawn, advanced unstoppably.

 

Dawn’s four leaders gained great fame. Leader Algiers was steady and magnanimous, with astonishing strategic vision. His first commander was actually the young master of the Suto organization, who’d broken through to S-level—even unprecedented ice-attribute mental power.

 

This undoubtedly pushed everyone’s emotions to a climax.

 

In this battle, Lian Yao fully demonstrated the terrifying nature of an intelligence network. Battle consumed resources, yet he could stably maintain Dawn’s rear supply lines.

 

Jin Daike didn’t know how many lives she’d snatched back from Death’s hands. The healing potions she developed quickly spread throughout the entire army.

 

Lan Xia commanded from the rear, rarely taking action, but never defeated.

 

The treasured sword silent in its sheath—once drawn, finally revealed its edge. In just three short months, Dawn accumulated tremendous prestige.

 

The Federation that had stood a thousand years, under nearly a century of decay, issued its dying wail.

 

When the Northwest Sector’s army was about to reach the Imperial Capital’s outskirts, many people still immersed in dreams finally realized—the Federation…

 

Seemed truly about to fall.

 

——

 

Imperial Capital.

 

Imperial Palace.

 

Inside the towering palace, not many people remained. Vast and desolate.

 

Many who’d caught wind had long ago packed up and fled. Those left were palace servants with nowhere to go.

 

When Gong Du arrived, the sky was lightless, clouds faint.

 

Small light orb: “Coming to see them off, push the plot. But how do you know Rosh and them will definitely follow your ideas?”

 

Gong Du: “If they don’t follow my ideas, I can kill them and rewrite it myself.”

 

In any case, his script absolutely wouldn’t allow anyone to interrupt. He could send Nie Liang away, could also ‘send away’ those two bugs.

 

Everything for the makeup exam.

 

Small light orb: “…You’re the boss, you’re awesome.”

 

Elansno gripped the Sword of Molo Triumph, not a trace of bloody smell on him. In this war between Federation and Northwest Sector, he’d barely intervened throughout, even controlled quite a few commanders.

 

War deaths were inevitable. He’d already tried his best to minimize casualties. As for what others said about him—none of his concern.

 

“Admiral, please. His Majesty awaits you inside.”

 

The magnificent golden doors creaked heavily open.

 

Elansno took a deep breath, lifting his foot to enter. He came to settle accounts with Emperor Rosh. Kill Rosh, then slaughter the research institute.

 

Kill them all.

 

Then cleanse himself.

 

The moment the Federation was overthrown, open the palace gates, go meet Brother completely clean.

 

Atop the high steps.

 

Emperor Rosh still held his scepter, gazing down benevolently.

 

Director Pei stood beside him.

 

“You’ve come, Elans.”

 

Elansno’s gaze was icy. “Rosh.”

 

Emperor Rosh smiled: “Still so stubborn. Remembered everything? Truly astonishing. In human history, you’re the first to prove that utterly pure, foolish emotions can create miracles. But unfortunately, your brother didn’t recognize you.”

 

His and Director Pei’s unhurried attitude finally made Elansno sense something wrong.

 

Discordant.

 

The orders urging desperate resistance had been so urgent—why now that he stood before them were they so calm?

 

Emperor Rosh’s smile was strange: “You and your brother are both obstacles to us. Being able to destroy you both together effortlessly—that’s truly perfect.”

 

Elansno frowned: “You…”

 

Director Pei, standing silently beside him, gently pressed a button in his hand.

 

Elansno’s brain suddenly flared with pain. He half-knelt on the ground. After a long while, his vision went black. He lost consciousness.

 

The controller in Director Pei’s hand had heated to burning: “Lucky. But after he wakes, control duration at most one hour.”

 

“Thanks to the two previous brainwashings making his brain domain very fragile. Otherwise it probably would’ve failed.”

 

Emperor Rosh: “Good that it succeeded. Things at the research institute should also be dealt with.”

 

Their figures gradually vanished into darkness.

 

Hundreds of years ago, the Zerg invaded the Federation, were slaughtered nearly to extinction, driven into the chaotic magnetic zone, nearly wiped out as a species. Only a few scattered undetected eggs remained.

 

The only two surviving intelligent brain-worms started by infiltrating the lowest-level people, controlling their minds, climbing up step by step.

 

Until the last hundred-plus years, they’d climbed to high positions, moved Ice-Cast City beneath the research institute. Frozen corpses became their breeding grounds for insect eggs.

 

The Zerg were a tenacious species. As long as one spark remained unextinguished, they could gather again, plotting a comeback.

 

The chaotic magnetic zone became the Zerg revival’s headquarters.

 

Eventually, a brain-worm invaded Emperor Rosh’s brain. Thus came the [Purge Plan].

 

Their inherited memories told them the Zerg had invaded countless species’ homelands—every single one successful—yet stumbled specifically on this immense planet.

 

Because this planet housed creatures different from anywhere else. These creatures were called ‘humans’.

 

Humans’ culture inherited over millions of years, settled deep in their bones, seemingly forming some innate faith. This faith allowed them to always write miracles, tempered in flames, becoming another form of eternity.

 

An eternity the Zerg, through constant devouring, could never reach.

 

But no matter.

 

Through learning, they’d already mastered the human Federation’s systems. Once they devoured and occupied this planet, they’d become another form of ‘human’.

 

——

 

The Northwest Sector’s army pressed closer.

 

North of the Imperial Capital, Shou Bing’s forces clashed with the Second Army.

 

Dawn camped temporarily a hundred miles outside the capital.

 

“Still can’t contact Elansno? Nie Liang hasn’t seen him in a long time either,” Algiers said. “We attack the capital tomorrow night. By rights, he should be rendezvous-ing with us now.”

 

Lian Yao: “At this stage of war, even if he wanted to break the agreement it’s too late. Did he enter the palace early?”

 

Lan Xia also frowned. “Could something have happened? I feel uneasy.”

 

Jin Daike: “Didn’t Teacher leave your mark in Elansno’s mental domain? Can you sense it?”

 

“The mental mark was left shallow. I can only sense it still exists. Can’t sense specifics.” Left deep, it would hurt. He’d only left a faint trace then.

 

Algiers: “He’s an S-level evolver. Teacher, since you can sense the mental mark intact, should mean nothing’s wrong. Elansno is very strong.”

 

Lan Xia said quietly: “No news from Nie Liang either.”

 

“…Forget it.” He sighed. “Tomorrow when we storm the capital, he should find us.”

 

Outside the tent, stars sparse and moon bright. Lan Xia looked up at the starry sky.

 

He suddenly remembered three months ago when parting with Elansno, the other had smiled asking: “…If you don’t mind, perhaps I could call you Brother.”

 

“If…” Lan Xia murmured. “If we successfully overthrow the Federation this time, and he wants to call me Brother, I seem… not so opposed.”

 

Beside him, Algiers heard clearly, pausing slightly.

 

——

 

Near the Far North Sector.

 

Temperature reached -79 degrees below zero.

 

Frost covered the ground. Wind cut like knives. Even with specialized cold-weather equipment, one careless moment could mean death here.

 

The deeper inside, the weaker the light-brain signal.

 

Nie Liang had flown three months to reach here. Now curled inside the spacecraft, rubbing his fingers while cursing with Lan Zhouhe.

 

Nie Liang: “Is the crawler dead?”

 

He was about to enter the Far North Sector to find the gemstone. Wanted to see the data stolen from the research institute before going in.

 

Lan Zhouhe: “99.991%. Where are you now? Why does your voice keep shaking?”

 

Nie Liang: “Taking an ice bath.”

 

Lan Zhouhe: “.”

 

Don’t understand.

 

The Federation’s collapse was inevitable. He’d been checking crawler progress more frequently. Barring accidents, most likely the day after tomorrow night it’d reach one hundred percent.

 

To avoid missing it, he wasn’t closing his eyes these two days.

 

Nie Liang: “Then I’ll wait until I see the data before going in.”

 

Lan Zhouhe: “Going in? Going where?”

 

Nie Liang: “Oh, into the bathtub.”

 

Lan Zhouhe was speechless. About to complain when the screen controlling the crawler suddenly flashed warning red lights:

 

[Self-destruct program detected! Crawler scared! Crawler scared!]

 

Lan Zhouhe: “…Fuck! What happened? Someone activated the research institute database’s self-destruct program?! Brain damaged?”

 

Nie Liang paused. His voice immediately shot up several degrees: “What did you say?!”

 

[Crawler scared! Crawler scared! Wuwu crawler scared!]

 

…Stupid worm! It’s just low-level data, what are you afraid of?!

 

Lan Zhouhe: “Shut up!”

 

He spat out his cigarette, sitting up viciously, gaze heavy: “Self-destruct program completes tomorrow night. As long as I can grab all remaining data before then, the crawler can successfully gorge itself to death.”

 

Damn it.

 

No one could stop him from making money.

 

Isn’t it just grabbing data?!

 

Lan Zhouhe rapidly input lines of code on the light screen.

 

——

 

Time ticked away second by second.

 

Finally reached the second day’s evening.

 

Shou Bing’s battle was victorious. Currently rushing toward the capital.

 

And Lian Yao received news: “The Hall of Divine Mercy still accepted a batch of children voluntarily sent by Federation nobles. The rebuilt Hall of Divine Mercy isn’t far from the research institute. That batch of children are currently at the institute.”

 

Algiers pondered: “I want to go to the research institute first to rescue the children. Capturing Emperor Rosh for glory is far less important than innocent lives.”

 

Lan Xia smiled: “Good.”

 

He patted Algiers’s shoulder, saying with relief: “Having this mindset, you already possess a fine leader’s basic qualities. You’ve grown up.”

 

Algiers felt embarrassed.

 

Jin Daike said: “Before Teacher, we’re all children.”

 

“Since we’re going to the research institute, I also want to come along. Maybe I can help somehow.”

 

Lan Xia nodded: “Good idea.”

 

Dawn became the vanguard, advancing first toward the Imperial Capital. The capital’s guard force was formidable, and to minimize losses, conquering it would take some time.

 

…

 

Research Institute.

 

Lan Xia brought Algiers’s group of three plus a squad of warriors, infiltrating together.

 

Tall trees grew lush and dense. The air carried a faint metallic smell.

 

No one was there.

 

Lian Yao frowned: “Was the intelligence wrong?”

 

Lan Xia: “Something’s off—get back!”

 

His voice suddenly sharpened. Mental power pulled everyone into rapid retreat.

 

Above them, an enormous suspended ceiling suddenly appeared, rapidly descending before stopping abruptly five meters from the ground!

 

Hanging from the ceiling were nearly a hundred children aged seven or eight. The barrier dispersed, and tender, terrified wails instantly pierced the sky.

 

The moment crying began, countless crimson eyes opened in the surrounding tall forest. Hundreds of Wall-Stabbing Ants crawled from the ground, rushing over in a blink.

 

They issued ear-splitting shrieks.

 

Not only that—from buildings surrounding the research institute, numerous dark gun barrels suddenly emerged and bullets shot out!

 

In three seconds, the situation plummeted and they were caught completely off guard.

 

Lan Xia expanded his mental power’s coverage, protecting the children on the ceiling while blocking bullets and attacks.

 

Algiers said gravely: “Why are there Wall-Stabbing Ants here?”

 

Lian Yao: “…We fell into a trap.”

 

“Don’t worry about it now—save the children first. You all protect them and stay safe.” Lan Xia divided his attention to destroy some gun barrels before charging toward the Wall-Stabbing Ants.

 

The children hanging from the ceiling were sitting ducks. Once rescued, they were carefully placed in the protective circle at the center, trembling.

 

With Lan Xia expending mental power to calmly control the battlefield, they quickly stabilized and Wall-Stabbing Ant corpses began to multiply.

 

Until—

 

The research institute’s central screen flickered and suddenly lit up.

 

Emperor Rosh’s smiling voice emerged: “Lan Xia, want to see your younger brother?”

 

Lan Xia’s hand shook and he didn’t dodge in time. A bullet grazed his forearm.

 

He abruptly raised his eyes, golden pupils frighteningly cold.

 

The central screen switched to video playback format. At the video’s center hung a huge pause button—like a rune sealing an abyss.

 

The video’s background was the Hall of Divine Mercy from over a decade ago.

 

Lan Xia: “…You’re targeting me? What do you want? How do you know I…”

 

Emperor Rosh’s voice sounded very pleased: “Your younger brother A-Nuo was a very obedient child. He only cried out when hurt badly. Like a… very interesting toy that couldn’t be broken.”

 

Lan Xia kicked away a Wall-Stabbing Ant, his voice like frozen shards: “Shut up.”

 

Algiers looked at him with concern: “Teacher…”

 

Emperor Rosh clearly wanted to distract Teacher.

 

“Why so angry? You definitely haven’t seen this, so you should thank me. I very caringly recorded his every second and thoughtfully edited it for you.” Emperor Rosh laughed. “Don’t rush. Watch slowly.”

 

On the enormous screen, the video began playing.

 

An extremely familiar, childish yet urgent call made Lan Xia unable to control himself from looking at the screen.

 

[It was a silent temple.

 

A small boy full of panic, even his clothes crooked from sleep, rushed out clutching a doll.

 

He shouted: “Where’s my brother? Where’s my brother?!”

 

“Has anyone seen my brother!”]

 

Lan Xia: “…That was after I took one ‘treatment’ in A-Nuo’s place and never returned.”

 

The video continued.

 

[Lan Nuo stumbled along. He was very small and thin with purple eyes wide open, grabbing the clothes of cold-faced adults in the temple.

 

“Have you seen my brother? He looks just like me.”

 

“I can’t find him.”

 

“No!”

 

Those adults dodged away coldly with disgust.

 

Lan Nuo searched every place in the Hall of Divine Mercy but couldn’t find his brother. His feet blistered with blood, leaving bloody footprints with each step.

 

He encountered those bad children who often bullied him and Brother.

 

He asked those bad children: “Have you seen my brother?”

 

The bad children laughed and told him: “We know, but we’re not telling you! Hey? When you begged us not to hit your brother before, didn’t you kowtow really loud?”

 

“Kowtow till we’re satisfied, then we’ll tell you where your brother is.”

 

Lan Nuo knelt without hesitation to kowtow.

 

The first one drew blood. He kowtowed while begging them: “Please tell me where my brother is! Please please!”

 

“Please…”

 

Tears dropped one by one to the ground.

 

Suddenly, someone kicked him and his entire body curled up.

 

Someone said irritably: “Your brother’s dead.”

 

The small boy trembling with pain froze. From somewhere he found strength, suddenly crawling up and shrieking as he lunged at that person: “Impossible impossible impossible!”

 

He tore and bit like a crazed little beast.

 

“Damn! He’s crazy! Pull him off!” That person was in agony. “You don’t believe it, go ask the priest! Your brother was dragged out this morning—he’s dead, dead!”

 

Lan Nuo was thrown down but climbed up again. He imitated those people’s manner, saying fiercely: “I don’t believe it! I’ll go ask the priest! I know—you just want to trick me into kowtowing.”

 

He walked away puffed up and proud. The moment he turned around, he fiercely wiped away tears.

 

“You bullied me. I’m telling Brother.”

 

He didn’t know how long he waited before seeing the robed priest. He still asked that same question: “Where’s my brother? The one who looks like me. My brother.”

 

The priest looked at him with pity: “Child, your brother was taken away by God.”

 

Lan Nuo froze: “What god?”

 

The priest looked toward the temple’s sacred statue: “There. He is God.”

 

Lan Nuo clutched his doll and staggered to the enormous statue.

 

The statue stood there, forever coldly lofty. Lan Nuo had never seen it bestow any divine grace, yet now it had taken his brother away like this.

 

He tilted his head back but still couldn’t see the statue’s face. It was so high.

 

He felt extremely wronged. “Give my brother back to me.”

 

“My brother is all I have left.”]

 

**

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