Chapter 354 The Frontline

"I tend to think that the entity that caused all of this is not a life form with a high degree of subjective will."

After summarizing all the intelligence, Jemin came to a conclusion.

"It is more like a 'non-living entity' that follows a fixed and massive program. Our awakening and contact, as long as they do not touch its core instructions or cause large-scale disturbances, may be judged by it as 'tolerable error'."

This speculation made the atmosphere in the room even more eerie.

Inside Rex's mansion, which was shielded by layers of technology, the two "Awakened Ones," who had reached a preliminary consensus, fell into a brief period of contemplation as they looked at the fragments of intelligence they had gathered.

A social atmosphere that is both peaceful and eerily unsettling, a vast and realistic cosmic scale, a number of "fallen" individuals that may far exceed expectations, and an all-encompassing, orderly, invisible network...

All these clues point to a deep and unfathomable system behind the scenes.

However, like scattered pearls, they lack a main thread to string them together.

“All the ‘anomalies’ seem to have been covered and digested by a powerful ‘order’.” Rex tapped his fingertips on the metal tabletop, making a rhythmic, soft sound. “Except for one place…”

Jemin looked up and replied, "The front lines."

Yes, only that star field battling the so-called "alien threat" is the only place in this vast, peaceful, and orderly universe where "chaos" and "conflict" continue.

If this "system" has flaws, that is undoubtedly the most likely place to be exposed.

Now that their objective was clear, Jemin and Rex immediately took action without hesitation.

Leveraging Rex's status as a renowned young engineer on "Anvil Star," and his contributions of several minor but popular technical optimizations, the two successfully obtained special access to a frontline star system and observer status.

A few days later, they boarded a military fast supply ship carrying spare parts and energy cores, passed through several heavily guarded stargates, and arrived at the front-line planet codenamed "Iron Curtain".

Upon arriving here, the two could clearly sense that the environment of "Iron Curtain" Star was completely different from that behind them.

The sky is perpetually shrouded in thick, metallic dust clouds, and the ground is covered with reinforced permanent fortifications, radar arrays, and massive energy shield generators.

The air was thick with the smell of ozone and the acrid smell of metal rubbing together, and an invisible tension permeated every corner of the base.

Because of Rex's status as a "technical advisor" and the "friendly" technology he brought, they were invited by the base commander.

These are middle-aged generals with resolute faces and weary eyes.

Out of consideration for the technical support provided, the two were treated fairly politely.

However, for the same reason, when they asked to observe the actual combat on the front lines up close, or even to go to the most forward outposts, they were met with a firm refusal.

"No, absolutely not!" The general's tone left no room for negotiation. "You two are invaluable technical talents, and the rear needs you more. The front lines are too dangerous—stray bullets, energy splashes, even those elusive infiltrators… I can't let you take that risk. This is an order, and it's for your own good."

No matter how much they emphasized the "importance of data collection for technological improvement," or even subtly hinted at "instructions from higher levels," the commander refused to budge.

Ultimately, the two had to settle for second best.

They were allowed to "observe" a small-scale conflict that had just broken out from a highly guarded observation post hundreds of kilometers away from the actual front lines, using a remote observation system.

On a huge holographic sand table, points of light representing enemy and friendly units are colliding fiercely in a rugged canyon area.

Jemin and Rex focused their attention on the magnified and enhanced live battlefield footage on the main screen.

Dozens of dark red figures of various shapes emerged from the shadows of the canyon and charged toward the human side's automated defensive positions.

"That is..."

Jemin's pupils suddenly contracted.

Leading the charge was a creature that moved on four limbs and was nearly three meters tall.

These creatures are covered with a dark red keratinous layer that looks like cooled lava, and their joints emit a blazing orange-red light. When they run, they leave scorching footprints on the ground, and they can also spew out extremely hot plasma fireballs from their mouths.

This form, this attack method... it's exactly the kind of cannon fodder bio-beast that Jemin knows—the Molten Core Hound!

These molten core dogs were simply larger, darker in color, and covered with mechanical armor at their joints.

Then, another creature, gliding along the ground like a shadow, caught their attention.

They have almost no fixed shape, like flowing black silt.

Yet it can suddenly spring up, easily tearing through light armor with its condensed sharp energy spikes.

They are adept at launching attacks from blind spots and can even interfere with electronic devices for short periods of time.

“Void Predator…” Rex’s voice came through.

This is a bizarre creature that lives near spatial rifts. It is often captured and modified by wizards who are proficient in shadow and spatial magic, and used for reconnaissance and harassment.

There are also flying units that hover at high speed in the air, hurling corrosive slime balls.

While traversing underground, a burrowing unit suddenly emerges to destroy the position...

Many of these "alien creatures" share characteristics that closely match those of the contracted creatures or elemental beings commonly used in interdimensional warfare in the wizarding world by Jemin and Rex, which are inexpensive and easy to control.

They are not exactly the same; there are some adjustments in the details, suggesting that they have been modified a second time using technology from this dimension.

The human defenders on the battlefield, relying on automated turrets, energy shields, and soldiers wearing power armor, put up a tenacious resistance.

The flashes of explosions, the roar of energy beams, and the ear-piercing sound of steel being torn apart, transmitted through the observation system, demonstrated the intensity of the battle.

However, Jemin and Rex's attention was no longer on that.

They looked at each other and saw a sudden sense of enlightenment in each other's eyes.

"No wonder we couldn't find any trace of those cannon fodder units; they were all placed here," Jemin said.

Rex's expression was somewhat serious: "There should be wizards among those fighting humans, but these things still launched an attack, which means that even cannon fodder units without any consciousness can be 'covered up'."

"Moreover, besides some familiar cannon fodder units, there are many unfamiliar creatures on the battlefield. Although it is unclear whether they are other unlucky ones or natives, it seems that the faction division logic in this world is based on appearance."

Hearing this, Jemin nodded in agreement, then turned to look at the "alien creatures" on the battlefield:

"However, there have been very few news reports about these creatures in recent years. It seems that these creatures are simply combat units or cannon fodder units in alien civilizations."

Rex immediately understood what Jemin meant: "In other words, there are 'real aliens' hiding behind these weapons of war."

(Bonus chapter, one more to go.)

(End of this chapter)