ABST Chapter 41

Two or three seconds later, someone started it off, and the comment stream instantly went wild.

 

[Ahhhhh is he dead?! Holy crap someone come!]

 

[Does anyone have the Northwest Sector security forces’ contact info?! Call someone over?!]

 

[Damn, I was wondering why he always wore black gloves—are they specifically for wiping blood?!]

 

[He’s an admiral after all. Why doesn’t he have guards following him?]

 

[I see the medical team coming!]

 

[They must have seen the livestream too.]

 

When Jin Daike rushed over with her people, what she saw was Elansno with his eyes quietly closed. Her heart trembled. She crossed the distance in a few steps: “Elansno!”

 

Just as she got within two meters, Elansno suddenly opened his eyes—undisguised wariness and killing intent in their depths. Only after seeing who it was did he stiffly relax.

 

“…Why did you come?”

 

The battle had just ended. Wounded soldiers were most numerous now. The medical team was at its busiest. Jin Daike shouldn’t have time to come find him.

 

Jin Daike: “If I didn’t come, whether you could stay conscious to see tomorrow’s sun would be another matter.”

 

Elansno was speechless. He subconsciously checked his surroundings and, finding he’d cleaned up thoroughly, said: “I’m just tired, lying here to rest a bit.”

 

He didn’t know his small movements had been clearly seen by everyone. Jin Daike was both amused and anxious: “Then stand up.”

 

Elansno: “…”

 

He tried and found that without external enemy stimulus, he couldn’t muster even a bit of strength.

 

So he gave up, breathing lightly, saying with a smile: “Haven’t rested enough yet.”

 

Jin Daike, hearing his nonsense, waved: “Lift him up. Take him away.”

 

[Elansno-style stubbornness: Haven’t rested enough yet.]

 

[So he really doesn’t even have the strength to stand up.]

 

[Medical team captain Sister Daike is so cool.]

 

[Hearing he was carried away, I really wanted to laugh. The always imposing Elansno has today too… But I felt relieved. Is something wrong with me?]

 

[Can those cursing him lower their voices? You can curse on StarNet right now because he’s so exhausted he can’t even stand.]

 

[Can the livestream drone follow? Where is Elansno injured?]

 

[What bullshit. If this guy finds out we all saw, won’t he pause the livestream?]

 

Jin Daike: “If not for this battlefield livestream where we all happened to see, who knows how long you’d have lain here.”

 

The comment stream paused slightly with an ominous premonition.

 

Sure enough, Elansno frowned slightly: “Livestream drone?”

 

He remembered avoiding them.

 

Jin Daike was surprised: “One is bound to you.”

 

“…”

 

Two or three seconds later, golden mental power silently rippled out. Elansno suddenly looked up, fixing on the drone’s direction.

 

Comments: “…”

 

Oh no.

 

The next moment, the livestream screen instantly went black.

 

The crowd watching here immediately swarmed to the other three intact livestream drones.

 

[No honor!]

 

[Just destroys it like that! Is being an S-level evolver so great?!]

 

[Screaming) I was so scared. Thought my device broke.]

 

[Will the livestream open tomorrow (whispers)? I want to know how he is.]

 

[Of course! This is the Grand Commander’s order. Can Elansno even disobey?]

 

[…That’s really hard to say (silence)]

 

[Hard to say +1]

 

[…]

 

No matter what, this time Algiers ordered Elansno to rest forcibly. He didn’t appear on the battlefield the entire next day.

 

Inside the soul sea.

 

Small light orb: “The next world has been picked for you. It’s a bit special—a world where manga and reality coexist. The world consciousness is adorably silly. Though troublesome, if handled well, you can harvest double fortune value.”

 

Gong Du: “…Please don’t disturb my emotions when this world is wrapping up.”

 

“…” Small light orb smiled. “Okay, but Nie Liang is almost back. At his speed, he can reach you within three months. What will you do then?”

 

Gong Du was surprised: “He found the gemstone?”

 

Small light orb: “Searched all through the Far North Sector and just found it. His device froze—he has no information source. He probably still doesn’t know the outside world has turned upside down.”

 

Tricked into going to the Far North Sector, by the time he returns, most of the script will have passed.

 

Gong Du pondered.

 

Nie Liang was a bit crazier about him than in the original storyline.

 

In the original plot, after Elansno died, Nie Liang killed quite a few people for revenge and was finally caught and imprisoned. Though mad, he stayed alive.

 

He wanted to give Nie Liang an ending better than the original storyline. If he really let this guy return before his script ended, he couldn’t guarantee what Nie Liang might do…

 

The more he thought, the worse his headache.

 

“Then… let’s end all this within two months.” Gong Du said.

 

Anyway, the plot line had progressed about as far as it should. Although the insect swarm came earlier than the original date, fewer deaths was always better.

 

He’d been exploiting loopholes and jumping time for more than a day or two. Hopefully the world consciousness would turn a blind eye this time too.

 

——

 

“This is my analysis. According to the insect swarm pattern, within six hours after each swarm disappears is when the king-worm is weakest. As long as someone goes in to kill the king-worm then, the Zerg can’t reproduce. Completely eliminating them would be a matter of two or three days.”

 

Algiers naturally understood what this meant.

 

He listened carefully to Elansno’s report and pondered: “Even if your guess is correct, the king-worm is deep in the chaotic magnetic zone. Guards are definitely heavy. Recklessly infiltrating will definitely cause severe casualties.”

 

Elansno: “The larger the target, the easier to discover.”

 

Algiers: “You mean?”

 

Elansno: “I can go alone.”

 

“No!” Algiers firmly refused. “This is too dangerous. Even if you’re S-level, you can’t resist that many Zerg! Elansno, don’t be impulsive!”

 

Elansno: “I can. Or would you rather watch the war continue for many years and more people die?”

 

“…”

 

Algiers: “Whether you’re confident or not—publicly, you’re the Northwest Sector’s Admiral. I can’t let you take risks. Privately, you’re Teacher’s younger brother. I can’t possibly watch you go to your death. So don’t bring this up again without certainty.”

 

The communication ended.

 

Elansno was quiet for a while, then wrote a report and submitted it, meticulously noting the feasibility of this plan. Algiers would suppress what he said, but other politicians wouldn’t.

 

As long as there was the slightest possibility, they’d try.

 

Just after sending it, Jin Daike came in and placed medicine on the table: “Hold out your hand. After injection, you need to rest.”

 

Elansno extended his hand.

 

Seeing him so compliant, Jin Daike felt somewhat relieved. At least she didn’t need to have people hold him down forcibly, right?

 

She prepared the medicine, shook it, and rolled up Elansno’s sleeve. The instant that thin, pale forearm was exposed, she froze slightly.

 

The veins were all covered with needle marks—bruised blue and purple from regularly injecting nutrient solutions. For a moment she couldn’t find a place to insert the needle.

 

While dazed, she heard a low voice: “…Sorry. Did I scare you?”

 

Jin Daike looked up, meeting a pair of distant, cold purple eyes.

 

Elansno pulled away, rolling his sleeve back down, covering everything completely, then extended his right hand: “This side should be better.”

 

[Sorry, Teacher forgot. Didn’t scare you, did I?]

 

Five years ago, when Teacher was injured from suppressing Shou Bing’s mental storm, his smiling eyes apologizing clearly surfaced in her mind—every gesture infinitely overlapping with Elansno at this moment.

 

Jin Daike’s nose suddenly stung.

 

Because they were twins, even without knowing what each other had experienced, would they say the same words in similar situations?

 

She vaguely grasped some of what Elansno hid beneath his cold shell—the same gentle, sensitive core as Teacher.

 

Only, Teacher was fresh snow under sunlight—everything beautiful and soft. Elansno was an iceberg hidden beneath the deep sea—even his concern seemed silent and soundless.

 

She lowered her head, dutifully fulfilling her role as a physician.

 

Elansno: “Are you researching the king-worm’s pattern of hatching Zerg? Any results?”

 

Jin Daike: “Some preliminary conclusions.”

 

“Compile a report and submit it.” Elansno paused, adding: “Perhaps we can research a solution.”

 

Jin Daike didn’t suspect anything: “Alright.”

 

Elansno nodded.

 

With Jin Daike’s statistical report, his proposal to personally slay the king-worm would have data confirmation. Even if Algiers objected, he couldn’t go against the majority opinion.

 

Another month passed. During this time, Elansno never let the livestream drones capture him looking weak again. What appeared before the cameras was Admiral Elansno, who seemingly would never fall.

 

Until today, when Elansno received communication from Algiers.

 

“The Presidential Office has approved your proposal to slay the king-worm alone.” Algiers’s expression wasn’t particularly good. “That report Daike submitted… was your idea, wasn’t it?”

 

Elansno neither confirmed nor denied: “Grand Commander, my proposal has high feasibility.”

 

Algiers was silent for a long while. Looking at Elansno’s face identical to Teacher’s, he suddenly asked a question: “Can you guarantee that after slaying the king-worm, you’ll return alive from the chaotic magnetic zone?”

 

Elansno seemed increasingly gaunt.

 

His previous self-destructive behavior had left a deep impression on the four of them. Fighting on the battlefield as if burning through his life, yet stubbornly refusing to rest—like a string stretched to its limit. Once released, it would snap.

 

Elansno: “Before the last bug dies, I won’t die.”

 

Algiers pressed: “And after the Zerg are eliminated?”

 

This time Elansno didn’t speak.

 

Algiers continued: “Teacher said he wanted to plant flowers in Dawn. Can you complete what he couldn’t?”

 

“Algiers.” Elansno didn’t call him Grand Commander but seriously used his name. “That seed can never bloom.”

 

His tone was very flat, like reminding others, more like reminding himself—

 

Never hold hope for impossible things.

 

…

 

Three days later, this insect swarm’s scale was larger than usual.

 

The battlefield livestream had achieved excellent results. Comments advocating peace negotiations with the Zerg were basically invisible now.

 

No one could watch their compatriots die miserably in Zerg mouths for so long and still have the face to say such things.

 

And the Human Alliance’s evaluation and attitude toward Elansno showed three-way polarization—those who hated him hated more, some remained neutral, and some had completely evolved into Elansno supporters.

 

The battle continued to its final stage. Elansno still showed no signs of fatigue.

 

He stood at the very front, shaking his sword, squinting toward the chaotic magnetic zone.

 

That enormous fissure was like an abyss. Countless Zerg fled there, while countless bugs crawled back out.

 

[The insect swarm battle line gets closer to the chaotic magnetic zone each time. Sooner or later we’ll dig out their nest.]

 

[But the Zerg counterattacks are getting fiercer too, right? After all, we’re fighting at their doorstep.]

 

[With Elansno leading, does the word ‘lose’ exist?]

 

[Come on, if not for all advanced weapons prioritizing the Northwest Sector, he’d probably be dead already.]

 

[What bullshit. When have you seen Elansno use heavy weapons himself? Hasn’t his weapon always been that sword?]

 

[After the Zerg war ends, will the judgment of Elansno continue?]

 

[End? When will there be an end—]

 

A dazzling golden light suddenly flew away from the human direction like a meteor, racing toward the abyss of the chaotic magnetic zone. Elansno followed close behind the Zerg’s retreating black line, instantly disappearing from the livestream drone’s range.

 

After a brief pause, the screen exploded.

 

[WTF! He he he fell down!]

 

[Is he crazy or am I crazy? Did I just see Elansno jump down?!!]

 

[Official parents? Come out and explain?]

 

Countless people’s eyeballs nearly popped out. They practically wanted to reach in and fish Elansno out of the chaotic magnetic zone.

 

Just as everyone was panicking, the livestream suddenly switched to the Presidential Office. Algiers sat upright at his desk: “Everyone, please remain calm.”

 

Billions of people quietly listened to him speak.

 

“Everyone knows the Zerg have a king-worm. If the king-worm doesn’t die, the Zerg are hard to eliminate.”

 

Algiers organized his thoughts: “A month ago, Elansno submitted a report stating he’d found the pattern of Zerg invasions. Every time the insect swarm recedes is the king-worm’s weakening period. As long as we seize this time to slay the king-worm, we can solve the endless Zerg from the source.”

 

“Elansno proposed entering the chaotic magnetic zone alone to slay the king-worm. Later, Dr. Jin Daike also provided preliminary statistical data confirming the feasibility of this matter.”

 

“After a month of deliberation, to prevent humanity from enduring prolonged warfare, even though the probability of success is very small, our Presidential Office still passed this resolution.”

 

Sacrificing one person to exchange for a tiny chance, to exchange for an opportunity for countless thousands to live.

 

This sounded somewhat tragic, yet very much aligned with the value of ‘sacrifice’ that humanity had maintained all along.

 

Countless agitated hearts gradually calmed, then began to grow complex.

 

Algiers had set aside personal emotions, calmly and steadily telling everyone this fact: “I hope that at least tonight, or rather, before Elansno successfully emerges, no new insulting comments about him appear on StarNet.”

 

“Because during this time, not one of us has the right to insult someone fighting for all of us—

 

A hero.”

 

StarNet fell into unprecedented silence.

 

No one mentioned what would happen if Elansno failed.

 

They’d witnessed Elansno’s victories too many times. It seemed as long as that person still held his sword, he would never lose.

 

That night, across this continent, not a single household turned off their lights—like a silent prayer.

 

Awake all night.

 

The army guarded before the chaotic magnetic zone without moving an inch. Solemn night wind swept through, carrying the lingering scent of homesickness. Some people missed home.

 

Time passed five in the morning.

 

The chaotic magnetic zone still showed no movement.

 

StarNet began to stir.

 

[Usually at this time, hasn’t the insect swarm already begun?]

 

[Yes, usually the latest is five o’clock.]

 

[Still haven’t seen a single bug. Does this mean…]

 

[Elansno…]

 

The chaotic magnetic zone suddenly flashed a line of golden light. Someone leaped from the abyss with sword in hand.

 

Elansno, covered in killing aura, stepped out leaving bloody footprints with each step.

 

He glanced around. Two or three seconds later, he said flatly: “Anyone among you who wants to go home can file a report. I’ll approve it.”

 

Thousands of soldiers fell silent.

 

No cheering or jumping for joy.

 

After a long while, only one or two soft sobs.

 

As if waking from a dream, the crying grew louder. Dawn’s light scattered down. Today, no gunfire sounded.

 

Remaining Zerg cowered in the chaotic magnetic zone. Until final victory, only the simplest cleanup battle remained.

 

Elansno gently gripped the silver-gray sphere at his collar.

 

[…The king-worm is dead?]

 

[Really dead? Not lying to me?]

 

[I’m not happy. I’m crying like an idiot.]

 

[Suddenly broke down in tears.]

 

[If it’s a lie, I’m willing to stay immersed in it forever.]

 

[Who can truly be happy? So much war, so many deaths.]

 

They’d watched helplessly as countless helplessness, death, and despair played out before their eyes day after day. They joked bitterly on StarNet, mocking and bickering noisily. But not one normal person didn’t want the war to stop.

 

[Elansno once destroyed my home, but now he grips his sword and guards my new home. I’ll hate him forever, never forgive him. But I also can’t help being grateful to him.]

 

[Is he badly injured again, not letting others see?]

 

In the livestream, the man in military uniform showed no signs of injury except blood-soaked hair tips.

 

Like what they’d accidentally glimpsed before—this person always hid his wounds thoroughly, not letting anyone see a trace.

 

**

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