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墨書 Inktalez
Upon entering the Primitive Jungle, they soon encountered Duan Shuai and his team. These individuals appeared to be relatively unaffected, though each wore a look of fatigue on their faces.
After a brief exchange, astonishment rippled through the group, primarily due to the unexpected support they had received during an inexplicable ambush. Just as Freyr was about to express his gratitude to Duan Shuai, he noticed that Duan Shuai's demeanor shifted, revealing an unnatural tension. If he were not hiding something, his expression would not have been so startled; instead, it was one of genuine surprise that radiated from within, not merely an act.
Despite the strangeness of the situation, they learned after their conversation that Duan Shuai and his team had drawn the attention of their pursuers and had been running through the forest, eventually hiding deep within it. As a result, no one had managed to find them. They had taken breaks in the woods until Freyr and his group found them, at which point they realized that the Wolf Brigade's strategic system had completely collapsed.
Freyr found this even more perplexing. If Duan Shuai and his team were not behind the ambush, then who could it be? The only ones among them capable of launching such an attack were Duan Shuai's forces. However, even with their weapons—no matter how powerful the final Glory Round might be—they could not have attracted such a large contingent of soldiers or provided substantial support to so many troops. It was clear that this was not just any unit; it was a well-organized and disciplined army.
As Freyr pondered this, his mind raced with possibilities. It seemed likely that they had been tracked since their departure. Yet with someone like Nosty—a powerful Psychic Sensory User—present, it was hard to believe that no details had been detected. Could there be another Psychic Sensory User within the opposing forces, one whose strength surpassed Nosty's? Perhaps this individual could obscure a section of space so effectively that even under Mental Power's influence, no psychic detection could penetrate that hidden area. While such a scenario seemed improbable, it could not be entirely dismissed; that army was undoubtedly formidable.
If their intent was genuinely to assist Freyr in seizing their target, it would be one thing. However, if they aimed to use him as a pawn to eliminate the Wolf Brigade, it would be a treacherous maneuver—sacrificing a few lives and some ammunition for significant gains during this exercise.
After deep contemplation, Freyr realized he might be overthinking things. Fatigue surged through him during this period of reflection. The pain he felt was manageable; thanks to the woman in Duan Shuai's team who helped bandage his wounds and administered painkillers, he felt somewhat relieved.
Leaning against a rock and observing the stillness of the surrounding forest, Freyr wished for just a moment of rest. He believed that if he could catch his breath for a bit, he would have enough energy to return to the military camp and face whatever consequences awaited him—even if it meant being sent to the gallows.
The survivors from the battle also sat down to rest, consuming Compressed Food from their backpacks. Eating became a form of leisure during combat—a time when most people felt relaxed and at ease without trivial concerns weighing on them. Gradually regaining his composure after catching his breath, Freyr felt much better mentally. However, he knew he couldn't afford to fall asleep just yet; any momentary lapse could lead to unforeseen dangers in these woods—beasts or worse yet, parasites.
After resting, both teams prepared to return along their original path back to the military camp.
The way back felt familiar enough; however, as long as they could locate where they had hidden their motorcycles, the remaining journey would pose no problem. The greatest fear—and what they least wanted to confront—was an unexpected incident along the way. Unfortunately, that fear soon became reality.
After walking for half an hour, Nosty appeared increasingly paranoid. His face had always been peculiar; now as his Mental Power expanded towards its Ultimate form, parts of his skin took on a pale blue hue that gradually spread—a sign that his physical characteristics were weakening. His desperate efforts to expend Mental Power exploring their surroundings piqued Freyr's curiosity and led everyone to feel as though someone was following them.
"Someone is indeed trailing us," Nosty stated. "I hadn't paid much attention before, but even though that Psychic Sensory User isn't infallible, maintaining such an extensive mental field must consume an enormous amount of energy. I can sense fluctuations similar to life energy within the area concealed by psychic shielding."
As they reached this point, many people gradually turned back to look. They glanced at the pitch-black surroundings, where apart from the path, there was nothing but endless wasteland. Building a military camp in such a place would make it easy to be surrounded and targeted with concentrated fire if a civil war broke out among humans. The strategy of encircling and depleting resources, or laying ambushes at water sources, was the simplest and most direct approach.
However, returning to the matter at hand, there was no need for humans to engage in such formal warfare against the Zerg. After all, only a few of them exhibited some degree of humanoid intelligence, which was akin to the gap between gorillas and Homo sapiens—still a far cry from human intelligence.
Yet, after several generations, even hundreds of generations of bloodline purification, some individuals of the Zerg might display humanoid traits. Some could mimic human speech through friction against their exoskeletons, while others responded to the calls of their kin. During battles, many soldiers would momentarily think they heard loved ones calling them from behind. When they turned around, their lives would be lost in an instant.
Freyr lowered his head slightly and said, "We should consider whether someone is tracking us or if they have been following us from the start."
Duan Shuai's voice echoed in his mind, filtering through his thoughts. "The purpose must be to help us defeat the Wolf Brigade. That possibility should be ruled out. Alternatively, our goals might overlap with theirs; in that case, they could be planning to assist us for their own reasons. We might just be naively believing they are helping us when we are actually the foolish ones in this scenario—they are putting on a show for another purpose."
Duan Shuai's words sent a wave of panic through those present. Such a grand scheme—decimating a regular army of the Wolf Brigade wasn't enough; there had to be another objective!
"Exactly. You've all figured it out. They tracked us back to the Crimson Dragon Army's Base Camp. They intend to use us as bait to eliminate our people while we become unwitting guides. Now that Ansebo's communication system is completely shut down, contact between the five legions has been severed. We either return or remain here and face our fate. Unless something else happens, they likely won't harm us; at least we won't die."
Upon hearing that they wouldn't die, relief washed over everyone's faces. However, Duan Shuai's forehead bulged with a vein as he continued, "But 'not dying' comes with conditions. The other side isn't foolish; these people are probably from other legions and may employ interrogation tactics on captured criminals. While no one may die during exercises, that doesn't mean coercion is off the table. They could resort to severe torture—like pulling out fingernails and pouring honey on them for ants to eat—or worse forms of humiliation for women."
"The goal of these exercises is to maximize overall benefits for the legion over the past year: combat readiness, manpower, physical resources, and optimal weapon allocation. The loss incurred from merely violating some rules is minimal compared to treating comrades inhumanely."
Ultimately, the biggest question remained: should they stay or go? Venturing further could lead to honor or betrayal; returning to Base Camp certainly wouldn't equate to betrayal. However, leading enemies into Base Camp would result in significant losses for the Crimson Dragon Army—even if they successfully wiped out the Wolf Brigade, it wouldn't absolve them of responsibility for jeopardizing their legion's standing against four major legions and a mysterious faction.
For honor's sake, these few could consider taking down a few enemies themselves; if necessary, they could sever their own ties and announce their withdrawal from the exercises. This would signify their sacrifice in this war game—leaving them without answers among the dead. Killing one would break even; killing two would yield profit—and they could embrace death with honor.
Froth chuckled wickedly and said, "Should we go back or toy with them?"
Freyr fell silent; he found Froth's mischievousness surprisingly useful.
Duan Shuai shook his head and said calmly, "Toying with them isn't worth it, but we can't betray the Crimson Dragon Army or our comrades. For now, this is the only way. We might as well take the risk and try to lead them down another path. While we can't guarantee the complete safety of the Crimson Dragon Army, at least we can buy some time. We also need to send someone back to report."
"Who will go back to report?" Freyr asked anxiously. The members of the team began to feel uneasy; no one wanted to return in such a disheartened state seeking help. This was not the grand image they had envisioned before leaving the military camp. It was difficult to swallow their pride, so they needed to send someone who was articulate and resilient under pressure. The more people they could convince, even if it raised doubts, sending a few to investigate would be beneficial.
The greatest advantage was that there was no threat to life. Duan Shuai smiled and glanced around before saying, "Alright, you go, Aeros."
Aeros, a burly man, was just a helper's child from Froth's farm and a companion of Froth. However, under these circumstances, he would never abandon Froth and return alone. His loyalty was unmatched in the team, especially since he had a solid reputation and an honest face. As for his eloquence? He had a bit of a rough edge that would suit negotiations perfectly.
"Me?" Aeros pointed at himself with a look of surprise, clearly unsure why he had been chosen. Did this mean he had to betray the team? That was something he couldn't do. Once back, there would be too many uncontrollable factors; he would have to bear the responsibility of bringing back reinforcements.
It would be easy for him to deceive a rogue Boss, but tricking an entire regiment's officers would be much harder. After all, risking sending someone to investigate just because of a few disobedient officers could lead to serious consequences for those sent out. The possibility of abandonment loomed large in his mind; such a daunting task shouldn't fall solely on him. What could he change or accomplish?
"Yes, it's you. Besides, you have a way with them; we've always believed in that," Duan Shuai said with a smile.
Aeros paused for a moment before asking, "But what if I can't bring anyone back?"
Freyr sighed lightly and patted him on the shoulder in reassurance. "Relax; just think of it as going back to find people for a fight. There are no 'what ifs.' The fact that we're sending you means you're our best option and our comrade. So there are no 'what ifs.' If you can't do it, we'll just get beaten up; worst case scenario is just some injuries. They probably won't resort to killing us, and we won't blame you."
Aeros' lips twitched slightly as he suddenly stood up and pounded his chest in determination. "Alright then! I’ll go back! I will definitely bring people over; I bet my life on it."
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