ABST Chapter 38

Northwest Sector.

 

Chaotic Magnetic Zone.

 

A small squad from Xinghui passed near the chaotic magnetic zone and heard strange noises coming from beneath the crevice.

 

The captain raised his hand: “Stop!”

 

He brought a few people to the edge to look down. In the thousand-meter-high fissure, a dark mass—when they looked down, countless crimson alien eyes suddenly appeared, actually overflowing from within!

 

The captain was horrified. He only had time to shout: “Alert—”

 

Before he and the few people who’d come to look were devoured by ferocious insects.

 

The rest had already frozen in terror, watching helplessly as this enormous chaotic magnetic zone fissure swarmed with countless Zerg—the species rumored to have been completely eliminated long ago.

 

——

 

When Algiers reached the door of the room holding Elansno, he discovered the person wasn’t there at all.

 

He paused, frowning: “Where did he go?”

 

Had he gone to see Teacher’s funeral and not returned yet?

 

The person responsible for guarding wiped cold sweat from his forehead, saying: “That person inside came out once this morning, went out for the day, bought some things.”

 

“Only returned at evening. That gentleman showed no self-destructive behavior. After returning, he changed to a different room himself, then shut himself inside. We haven’t seen him come out since.”

 

“Every half hour we confirm he’s still alive, but beyond that… we can’t really manage.”

 

Knowing Elansno had been this calm, Algiers felt somewhat surprised but also relieved. He said: “Ensure his safety and try to meet his other needs as much as possible. Which room is he in now?”

 

The guard: “I’ll take you there right away.”

 

It was a room at the end of the hallway, nothing special about it. Several people who’d followed Elansno out today were also guarding the door.

 

Seeing Algiers arrive, they quickly lowered their heads: “Leader, he’s inside.”

 

Algiers noted their somewhat strange expressions and asked: “What’s wrong?”

 

A guard said: “You… you’ll know when you go in and see.”

 

The door wasn’t locked. Algiers pressed his lips together and raised his hand to push it open.

 

The next second, his pupils trembled violently. Even having mentally prepared himself, the scene before him still delivered a massive shock—

 

Under soft, warm lamplight, a man with black hair in a high ponytail wearing a black coat stood by a table.

 

All the windows were tightly shut—not a trace of damp wind or rain had seeped in. In the man’s hand was an all-too-familiar watering can, currently watering the flowerpot on the table.

 

Seeming to hear the sound, the man looked up. Golden pupils gentle, he smiled at Algiers by the door: “Busy today? Seems you’re back later than usual.”

 

“Teacher…”

 

For a moment Algiers couldn’t distinguish whether this was a dream or hallucination.

 

He’d just attended Teacher’s funeral today.

 

Suddenly, he dug his nails hard into his flesh, forcing himself to snap out of it. After clearing his head, he noticed the differences in this ‘Teacher’ before him.

 

Around his neck he still wore the suppression ring that couldn’t be removed without the controller. His wrists and throat bore unhealed wounds, and his face was excessively pale—all silently declaring that he wasn’t Lan Xia—

 

He was Elansno.

 

Algiers couldn’t suppress the chill rising up his spine. Voice hoarse, he asked: “What’s going on?”

 

Someone beside him said: “This gentleman went out today and bought pupil dye, hair dye, and some clothes. After coming back, he stayed inside for a while by himself… when he came out, he’d become like this.”

 

Only then did Algiers realize the room Elansno had changed to himself seemed familiar—the layout was very similar to Teacher’s room specifications back in Dawn.

 

Even the posture of watering the flowerpot and the watering can used were almost identical.

 

Algiers stepped inside, calling out: “Elansno.”

 

Elansno didn’t respond. He lowered his head, stroking the flowerpot, clearly not listening. Instead he said to himself: “Why didn’t Daike come today? I remember I asked her to buy peach blossom pastries.”

 

He’d isolated himself from the real world.

 

Algiers vaguely felt this was familiar. After thinking back, he remembered—what Elansno just said was something he’d once heard during that time in Dawn.

 

Elansno… was replicating all the things Teacher had said during that time he’d witnessed in Dawn.

 

The man seemed to remember something: “Ah, right. Tomorrow morning for breakfast, go call Elansno earlier. He was late yesterday.”

 

Elansno ignored Algiers and shifted to another scene—chaotic and disordered, but undoubtedly all things Teacher had once said.

 

…He remembered so clearly.

 

Algiers’s throat felt stuffed with cotton.

 

Then came a deep sense of powerlessness.

 

They resented Elansno, but this person probably hated himself even more than they did. When they’d met, he hadn’t dared acknowledge the relationship. When they finally did, it was a permanent farewell.

 

The dead forever carried regret. The living had become like wandering souls.

 

However reluctant to admit it, the fact was laid bare before Algiers.

 

Elansno had gone mad.

 

After collapse and self-destruction, he’d calmly gone insane.

 

He’d transformed himself into Teacher, trying to create a Lan Xia, deceiving himself that Teacher was still alive.

 

But what use was it?

 

Fate.

 

Algiers closed his eyes, slowly unclenching his fist: “Elansno, I don’t believe you’ll really stay mad like this forever.”

 

“Daike discovered traces of Zerg beneath the research institute. Teacher’s death was mostly due to Rosh’s scheme at the time, and Rosh has an inseparable connection to the Zerg. I can understand you wanting to kill yourself, but even if it’s to avenge Teacher—what about Rosh?”

 

“I originally came to ask you about some things, but now it seems… there’s no need. If you’re willing, just keep being mad. As long as you don’t show your face, Dawn can protect you for life.”

 

Algiers left.

 

The door was closed again by guards shocked at the news of the ‘Zerg.’

 

Aside from the sparse sound of rain, the room quieted once more.

 

Elansno’s face showed no expression. The dyed golden pupils no longer held any warmth, instead filled with inorganic coldness. A violent aura faintly rose from him, quickly suppressed by calm.

 

Pale fingers touched the seed in the flowerpot.

 

He whispered: “Brother.”

 

——

 

Not long after Algiers left the room, he received a message from Shou Bing telling him to hurry back to the conference room—everyone had arrived.

 

As he walked, he said: “From last night until Elansno left this morning—edit the surveillance footage and send me a copy.”

 

Algiers didn’t believe Elansno had suddenly become like this. If it was due to shock from the funeral, there should have been warning signs.

 

He wanted to see whether Elansno had truly gone mad or was just immersed in his own world, unwilling to come out.

 

Conference Room.

 

Algiers took the main seat.

 

Sitting close on either side were Shou Bing, Lian Yao, and Jin Daike, who’d just finished preparing the data.

 

Five years ago they’d been mere youths fleeing on the road. In such a short time they’d grown rapidly into adults who could stand on their own.

 

After Jin Daike finished explaining what she currently knew, the atmosphere became extremely heavy.

 

Xinghui’s leader said: “Right now nothing is certain. Besides, even if we’re destined to battle the Zerg, we don’t know where they’ll actually appear…”

 

He had a conservative personality. All his actions prioritized stability and caution as the best response to any situation.

 

But before he’d finished stating his viewpoint, the comm device of the second-in-command beside him began flashing frantically.

 

It was from one of their squads they’d recalled from the Northwest Sector to transport energy. An ominous premonition surged in his heart. He instinctively connected.

 

The holographic projection instantly displayed on the conference room table.

 

The next second came a warning cry: “Reporting to Second-in-Command! Zerg missing for hundreds of years discovered in the chaotic magnetic zone! Situation critical, we ah—!”

 

The person reporting was instantly engulfed by the surging insect tide.

 

The still-intact comm device continued transmitting live footage to Algiers and the others:

 

Countless Zerg species they recognized or didn’t recognize were frantically crawling out from the chaotic magnetic zone’s fissure. People several generations above them had only seen the Zerg’s ugly forms in history books.

 

Frenzied shrieks and enormous mandibles—the insect tide like heavy black clouds pressed down hard on everyone’s hearts in the conference room.

 

And the place the Zerg headed toward first was the Northwest Sector they’d left long ago!

 

Most of the army was concentrated in the Imperial Capital. The Northwest Sector’s defenses were very weak. If the insect tide went there on a large scale, they couldn’t hold out long.

 

The Zerg clearly weren’t good opponents, leaving them absolutely no buffer space.

 

Suddenly, the communication hologram disappeared and the conference room returned to silence.

 

Xinghui’s leader froze, then his face flushed red. Shocked and furious, he said: “They’re heading toward Xinghui! They want to invade from Xinghui inward! Quickly! Notify remaining Xinghui warriors in the Northwest Sector—have them establish emergency defenses!”

 

Xinghui’s territory was at the edges, closest to the chaotic magnetic zone. If breached first, Xinghui’s ordinary citizens would absolutely suffer disaster.

 

This was different from being captured by the Federation. Capture and surrender still offered a thread of survival, but if the opponent was the Zerg, the only result was ending up in insect bellies.

 

Algiers: “Everyone, don’t panic.”

 

“First sound the Imperial Capital’s original special-level alert. Notify everyone—all humanity enters emergency war readiness.”

 

“Lian Yao, send out what we’ve prepared. Temporarily establish the Presidential Office…”

 

“Xinghui Leader, inventory all military forces in the Imperial Capital.”

 

“Shou Bing, release prisoners of war. Reorganize troops. Original First and Second Army soldiers—remove all restrictions. All uniformly obey Presidential Office deployment. Those who disobey orders will be executed without mercy. Those who delay battle opportunities during crisis—punishment extends to three generations!”

 

“Daike, go research the remaining database materials. See if we can replicate the original version of beast repellent.”

 

As Algiers was recognized by default as leader, calmly issuing orders one after another, Shou Bing was momentarily reminded of their Teacher who’d once taught the four of them so earnestly and gently.

 

As if that person who’d said they’d watch them grow up had never gone far, always in a place they couldn’t see, silently and tenderly watching over them.

 

Just that alone was enough to give them courage to move forward, even if the road ahead was lightless, dangerous darkness.

 

In Dawn’s conference room, lights burned bright all night.

 

One second past midnight.

 

The Imperial Capital’s alarm rang out. Starting from the capital, one city transmitted to the next. Soon, all sleeping people across the continent awakened.

 

Ten thousand households’ lights, one by one, lit up.

 

Countless people startled awake—young children, parents, soldiers on city guard rotation.

 

Simultaneously, StarNet announced news of the Zerg invasion. On this ordinary night, it struck people as if in a dream. Peace was shattered from this moment.

 

The Northwest Sector rapidly implemented resistance measures, holding the Zerg at bay outside.

 

The next day.

 

Algiers united the Northwest Sector and several generals and politicians from the old Federation he’d persuaded overnight, formally announcing the establishment of the new regime.

 

Historical Record:

 

[Star Calendar New Era, this day being January 01. First Grand Commander Algiers establishes the Presidential Office. From this day forward, no more Federation Empire. Political regime formally changed.]

 

[Star Calendar New Era, January 02. Zerg invasion of Orlanyat Continent confirmed. Grand Commander establishes Human Alliance. Setting aside old grievances, united against external enemies, jointly resisting foreign invasion.]

 

The regime had just changed, and now they had to face the Zerg invasion.

 

This turbulent, dark period of history that produced countless heroes was destined to be permanently recorded in the annals.

 

Author’s Note:

 

Speeding up the pacing of the setup. There should be very few enemy resistance scenes, considering length and rhythm. This world is almost over—just a few more chapters. Don’t worry, I’ve thought out the ending, including Little Mad Bird’s. I think they’re all very romantic, like BE fairy tales ()

 

This chapter sends 30 red envelopes~

 

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