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墨書 Inktalez
The battle raged on around them, and it was easy to imagine just how terrifying the situation had become.
Although the situation was developing positively, the ongoing conflict still held significant unpredictability.
Such changes were beyond anyone's control; after all, in a war, even the fear of death was an unavoidable reality.
Thus, the pressure that arose was an omnipresent force. No one truly understood what was happening. In the Northern Lands, without the Mountainous Region serving as a difficult stronghold and final barrier, it would have been impossible to withstand the onslaught of thousands of Swarm creatures.
Human ships, Humanoid Robots, and various Plasma Explosive Corps represented humanity's most formidable arsenal.
In addition to these, there were Human Wave Tactics; those masses were the greatest asset of the Human Alliance. Orders had even been given to mobilize large numbers of troops from other strongholds.
Initially, it was believed that having one hundred thousand soldiers would provide a significant advantage. However, after this battle, the losses incurred were staggering, leading to a tremendous waste of manpower.
Yet the Zerg remained relentless. Although their casualties were far greater than anticipated, each wave of troops continued to surge forward without any sign of decline. Just how many insects were there? It could be estimated that there were not just hundreds of thousands but possibly millions.
The Advanced Units of the Zerg posed an even greater threat; if they launched a final surprise attack, the losses for humanity would be catastrophic. From an early perspective, the Zerg's tactics seemed quite effective—utilizing an aggressive strategy while initially deploying lower-tier forces as a distraction. Only when their numbers began to dwindle did they unleash their elite units to seize victory.
This might appear to be a rather underhanded tactic, but in desperate circumstances, it effectively wore down opponents before striking with alternative strategies. Although such methods might seem despicable, they were undeniably effective. The beautiful Female Hunter stepped aside and quietly observed those before her, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.
The crowd stiffened, standing tall as they felt the gaze of such an enchanting woman upon them. They all wanted to display their impressive physiques, much like monkeys in a Primitive Jungle showcasing fruits to attract potential mates.
"Looking lively, everyone," said the striking Female Hunter as she walked through the crowd. "Now, I want to know who among you has formed a Hunter Team. Those individuals should step forward. Additionally, those without any mission experience—specifically team leaders with less than a month of experience—should also take a step forward."
Suddenly, chaos erupted among the crowd as over ten individuals stepped forward. As they moved into position for another step, Freyr glanced around and caught sight of a smiling Mushroom Head Boy who seemed to use his grin to mask his own awkwardness. However, that smile managed to diffuse some tension; Freyr returned a slight smile and stood quietly awaiting further instructions.
"Those who have completed missions should stay close to me," she continued. "Other team members will follow my commands and will be assigned tasks accordingly. These Commanders will act as my voice; you are expected to follow their orders unconditionally. And as for you two? Without combat experience, you cannot act independently but may observe closely. If necessary, I will assign you tasks."
"My name is Medusa," she stated firmly. "My team always returns from missions unscathed; we have never suffered casualties. This is my expectation from you—if you cannot meet it, you may leave immediately. Your role in this mission is either to cooperate or passively cooperate; it's all about survival. Moreover, cast aside past grievances; those conflicts are irrelevant now. Your lives are merely symbols in this war."
"Fallen heroes lose their names; their left hands will be severed and buried alongside them. Look upon the Flame Tower beside the glorious tombs—those are the bodies of heroes who fell on the battlefield. Their souls have not dissipated but instead coalesce into radiant golden light; they are our heroes for future generations. I urge you all to confront this reality—I do not wish for your deaths nor do I want anyone sacrificing others just to survive."
"If that happens," she added fiercely, "I will immediately sever that person's left hand!"
In war, losing an arm could mean life or death. If their adversaries in Confronting were not so easily predictable or human-like beings, survival might have seemed more feasible. However, their opponents were swarms of insects—some capable of parasitizing living beings while others were weaker members of the Zerg. Overall, being weak did not equate to being easy prey; there were too many unpredictable factors within the Zerg itself. Mobilizing so many Star Hunters was merely a precaution against unforeseen threats.
As others heard these words, they instinctively gasped in shock. At this point, retreating was nearly impossible, for once one became a hunter, both sides needed to reach a mutual understanding.
The recognition between them meant that while they gained a glamorous profession, many would never have the chance to pursue grand battles. However, some inexperienced hunters were informed right after leaving the novice village that the battlefield they were about to enter was an endless darkness, and their opponents were bugs.
Medusa walked toward the edge of the arena and drew two silver-gray pistols. They looked imposing and powerful, complemented by her holy armor and arm guards emitting a blue light. Beneath the blue beam, her forearms radiated a strong and intimidating aura.
Under normal circumstances, Medusa would allow her team members to hone their skills first, identifying those in peak condition to serve as firepower while others provided cover. This approach ensured ample combat strength while minimizing casualties. However, now she had to rely on experience to assess a team member's capabilities. Those with extensive combat experience served as primary firepower on the battlefield, and she would step in to assist when necessary.
Once everyone was prepared, a tremor ran through the Flame Tower. Medusa seemed to receive a signal; she waved her hand, her expression turning serious and solemn.
"Let's go." As she spoke, teams from other areas began to withdraw, and the crowd gradually thinned. Each Star Hunter appeared burdened with heavy thoughts, no longer displaying their usual gentle demeanor. The Star Hunters were indeed different from ordinary hunters; there was a fundamental disparity between them. Yet without better arrangements for them, all they truly desired were medals and rewards.
Exiting the Radiant Zone, they found many Military Trucks lined up at the entrance. These vehicles seemed to have connections with the association. The trucks could accommodate over two hundred people, clearly not ordinary trucks. The engines roared wildly like a fierce lion, while only the drivers and Star Hunters occupied the front seats; all other hunters would sit in the back.
Approaching the rear of the truck revealed an unusual sight: it featured compartments resembling eggs. When hunters pressed buttons near these egg-like structures, chairs emerged from within. Once seated, the chairs would disappear along with the person inside, yet those inside felt no fear of suffocation; instead, they experienced a sense of comfort.
"Everyone has ten hours of rest time. The area we are heading to is devoid of human presence and large troop support. That city was abandoned by humanity two hundred years ago; rather than being abandoned, it is more accurate to say it was forsaken. According to Military Satellites, this city is now covered in white spider webs; there are no plants or living creatures there. What we will confront will only be bugs."
"The weakest species under the Zerg branch is the Human-Faced Spider. They are massive; adults stand over three meters tall while juveniles are still two meters high. There are thousands of such creatures in that city. Upon arrival at our destination, we may face unforeseen events and likely have little time left for rest. Therefore, everyone should conserve their strength as much as possible and be cautious not to engage in any strange activities."
Once everyone entered the Egg System, Medusa's intelligent voice echoed from within.
"Um, Sister Medusa, I have a question that I'm unsure whether I should ask," came a slightly lewd voice from among them. The group realized that this machine not only transmitted sound but also functioned as a communication device for reporting situations; it likely contained pinhole cameras for observing internal conditions. Everyone understood what that comment implied.
"Go ahead," Medusa's voice responded. Laughter erupted among the others as her voice spread through the system; indeed, the Egg System could serve as both a receiver and an amplifier. Rest time was precious; considering they might not even have a place to settle upon reaching the city, having this opportunity to rest was quite fortunate.
The lewd voice chimed in again: "Sister Medusa, wasn't it wasteful to send troops for suppression beforehand? If that's the case, why mobilize all hunters from the Hunter Association as cleanup tools? Even so, it seems you must be hiding something from us; surely there are other hidden truths involved? Why is there still military presence in that city? Is it merely due to mission logistics involving too many lives and resources? No... my experience tells me it's not that simple."
Medusa's voice fell silent for a moment; after some time passed in silence from the system, one could clearly hear someone gasp in surprise on the other end. Medusa furrowed her brow while fiddling with her flowing brown hair, a hint of delight playing at her lips.
"What a clever person you are! If only everyone else could analyze problems like you," Medusa's laughter resonated through the system. For an instant, everyone wore expressions of shock—was there truly something being concealed from them? It seemed that the association did not regard its hunters seriously at all.
Upon hearing this statement, many began to feel an overwhelming sense of anger and rejection wash over them; their bodies trembled slightly.
At that moment, Medusa sat in the passenger seat, watching as countless red dots flickered on the glass of the Virtual Screen in front of them. These dots represented various physiological states; when someone within the Egg System lost control of their emotions, adrenaline would surge, causing the dots to glow even brighter. The blood-red spots scattered across the semi-transparent window like a constellation of distress.
Green dots indicated a stable emotional state, while blue dots hovered between chaos and calm, suggesting that a slight disturbance could tip them over the edge.
"These guys are showing physical symptoms. Talk to them, but don't provoke them," the man in the driver's seat said coldly.
Medusa glanced at him, nodded silently, and her lips trembled slightly.
She then activated the communication device of the Egg System and spoke, "This is something I shouldn't have to tell you, but it's already been discovered, and I can no longer keep it from you. Please refrain from attacking the shell. Even with your abilities, you won't be able to break free from it. The internal structure of this egg is incredibly resilient; your strength isn't sufficient yet. It can even absorb the force of your punches and kicks."
"Got it," came a voice from the driver's seat, filled with a hint of joy. The man smiled as he patted the steering wheel and pressed down on the accelerator.
As the situation began to ease, Medusa took a deep breath. She noticed that many of the dots on the Glass Wall were rapidly decreasing; the red dots were slowly calming down to blue and even safe green.
Then, Medusa returned to her composed demeanor. "This matter was supposed to be revealed to you upon your arrival at your destination, but circumstances have changed. Let me explain what’s going on."
The explanation took time, but Medusa's eloquence shone through. One could hear her frustration as a Star Hunter; if even they felt so helpless, what about the rest of the hunters in the association? Aside from Freyr, everyone else fell into deep contemplation after hearing her story.
"Well, never mind. Although you're quite powerful, there are certain qualities a leader must possess—namely, leadership charisma. Beyond that, you need to be articulate; sometimes words can conquer armies. Medusa, you will face many challenges ahead. Keep striving upward; you're still young and will have plenty of opportunities," sighed the man beside her as he turned slightly to meet Medusa's gaze. He appeared ordinary but was far from being just a simple driver.
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