Chapter 115 Chapter 115 (End) Years...

Jiang Ling and Qin Yang were fine except for the overdraw of their mental strength.

According to the mecha maintenance personnel present, the cabin of Qin Yang's mecha was so fragile that only a layer of bloody skin was left.

If he had come out half an hour later, what awaited him would have been the contaminated spores invading the cockpit and completely devouring him.

As for how Qin Yang got out, his energy had already been exhausted halfway?

Of course, it was Jiang Ling who dragged it out with a grappling hook, and Jiang Ling's mecha was stranded dangerously on the edge of the core ecological zone and the outer area where the mecha signal could be received due to energy exhaustion.

If they were any slower, neither of them would have gotten out alive.

That night, Chen Luan's tent was very lively. According to people in the next tent, the two twin captains of the Pioneer Fleet and the Hunter Force were kicked out of the tent by Captain Chen in the middle of the night.

It is unknown what they did, but the next day Captain Chen put a Band-Aid on his neck again and did not look at either of them in a good mood.

After all, there are only a group of betas over there, and no one can smell the pheromones.

The reconnaissance operation was still going on. The damaged mechas were repaired and re-entered the contaminated area. The lightly injured fighters could be recuperated and then returned to fight. The seriously injured were transferred to the hospital early. The medical conditions outside were still much better than those in the command center hospital.

But until the first snow fell, the exploration operation was still not smooth.

The situation in the ecological core area is complex and changeable, coupled with the chaotic magnetic field and the occasional polluted dust storms, which have turned this area into a complete quagmire.

The initial exploration and clearance came at a bloody price, but the result was still just adding a few scarlet marks of "blocked paths" on the topographic map.

After all, Jiang Xun had only found the location of the Beast Mother's Nest by accident, and the route that a single soldier could take was not suitable for a large army.

The 21st is the winter solstice.

After losing another six elite reconnaissance teams, the beta crew led by NS01 sent back a somewhat blurry but crucial image.

Thirty-two kilometers southwest of the Beast Mother Point, they discovered a relatively clean route through an underground air defense tunnel in an abandoned city. The contaminated crystal dust and fungal mat were much thinner in this area than in other areas. While there were still a number of desolate beast nests nearby, they were within the scope of cleanup.

As long as those nests are destroyed, they can pass through the most dangerous ecologically dense areas through underground passages and arrive at the place where the wild beasts first landed.

The mother beast was sleeping there.

In January of the following year, the command center used the underground tunnel as a breakthrough point. Combined with the important terrain data obtained at the cost of the lives of several other teams, the final attack route and terrain model were finally formed with great difficulty on the 3D sand table.

The main force began to clear the area in sections along the markings left by the NS01 team, consolidating the front-line positions step by step.

The unending tide of crackdowns is like a sharp knife, piercing into the heart of the ecological core area with unstoppable force.

Large areas of the fungal mat covering the ground lost their activity, and the rusty vines climbing and entwining the ruins of the buildings also withered and died in large numbers. The desolate beasts entrenched around the route were either eliminated or retreated to deeper nests.

"Reporting to the command center, the underground passage of Bailong Cave has been opened, and the A9 forward base has been established."

"Reporting to the command center, the rear retreat route has been cleared, and emergency support supplies are being deployed!"

Brief news arrived daily as the advance preparations progressed, at the cost of continuous and tragic sacrifices.

The data obtained was sorted and simulated countless times, and finally integrated into a scarlet assault route.

This route will penetrate the extremely dangerous ecologically dense area outside the Beast Mother's Nest at the lowest cost, and the sword will point directly to the original landing place more than 200 years ago.

By then, the beta vanguard team led by Chen Luan had already joined forces with vanguard units from several other military regions and successfully reached the end of the passage, where was the outer edge of the conical nest covered by endless fungal blankets and materialized contaminated crystal dust.

In fact, Chen Luan had never been to No. 0 before.

The S17 base is too far away from No. 0, and the road in between is cut off by the contaminated area. The encirclement and suppression of No. 0 that year was launched by the largest local base and this week's base.

The result was quite tragic, and no news of victory came until the year Chen Luan died.

At this moment, Chen Luan stood outside the huge tiankeng and looked down at the area that was completely covered by polluted miasma and fungal blankets. At the edge, he could still see the remains of large pieces of mechas and armored vehicles left here.

More than two hundred years have passed, and they still haven't been able to return home.

Chen Luan was standing here at this moment, having escaped from the timeline and standing two hundred years later. He certainly knew that they had really won that year.

But it was a victory that was almost a life-or-death struggle, so there have always been rumors that there are no descendants of local base personnel in Elhuaqinzhou anymore, and they all migrated from other places after the victory and reproduced.

That conical hill was the starting point of the dark underground era and the source of Chen Luan's nightmare that he could never reconcile throughout his life.

He had lost everything including himself.

Will all this end?

Chen Luan looked back at his companions who had fought side by side with him for a long time, as if he had returned to the past.

I definitely will.

This time, I want to see it with my own eyes.

Watch how fearless humans are, watch how humans once again fight against fate.

The only difference this time is that Chen Luan guarded the gate of the base back then and died alone before dawn without any worries. But now Chen Luan still has someone who cares about him for the rest of his life, and they have agreed to go home together.

On the day when snow fell again in the command center, not long after the Great Cold, everything was ready, but the environmental monitoring department detected an obviously abnormal fluctuation in the ecological activity of the beast's nest, and suspected that the mother beast had entered the awakening stage early because of their recent continuous actions at No. 0.

At the same time, almost all the combatants felt an extreme discomfort emanating from the glands at the back of their necks. This was most noticeable in alphas and a small number of omegas, while betas had the mildest symptoms.

Immediately afterwards, an urgent call in the early morning shattered all the previously formulated combat plans centered on alpha and standard mecha units.

Urgent message from Shen Bohong's team:

The differentiation of the second sex is closely related to the ecological changes caused by the arrival of wild beasts. The development process of the wasteland disease is indeed triggered by the same frequency of bioelectric waves, which affects human gene fragments and catalyzes wastelandization. However, the starting point of those mutated genes is the second sex organ newly differentiated by humans over the past two hundred years - the gland.

In other words:

The differentiation of the second sex and the emergence of pheromones are not evolution at all, but a curse.

But the final battle is imminent, and they cannot wait for the Beast Mother to fully wake up.

February, rain.

Chen Luan and several other outstanding captains of the NS series mecha teams knocked on the door of the commander-in-chief.

They are all the best beta pioneers, and their combat records are not inferior to any experienced alpha mecha pilots.

Therefore, the battle mode that has been centered around alpha for many years has changed its lineup for the first time.

This time, Beta stood at the top of the sword, while the Alpha troops, who were more deeply affected by the awakening of the Beast Mother, began to plunder for the Beta troops.

The wind was very strong on the day the army set out, carrying the biting spring chill through the command center and through one supply base after another along the route.

The final inspection is completed.

Emergency supplies confirmed to be in place.

Energy and weapons debugging completed.

Someone was repeatedly wiping the blade that had been maintained to a brilliant shine.

Someone leaned against the cold fuselage, stroking the old photos between his fingers again and again.

Some people sat quietly outside the cabin, their legs dangling in the air, staring blankly at the thick, lush purple sky...

Then, with a sharp sound that pierced the sky, the advancing torrent of steel stepped out of the base, as quiet as a sword drawn from its sheath, ready to be fired. Apart from the roar of the engine, there was only the clanging sound of the metal fuselage colliding and rubbing against each other.

At this moment, Chen Luan was sitting in the cabin operating the mecha and communicating with Jiang Xun and Jiang Ling.

The closer he got to the beast's nest, the more obvious the burning sensation on the back of his neck became, to the point that Chen Luan even felt dizzy for a moment occasionally.

He pressed the communication button: "Are you all right?"

"I feel a little dizzy, but I can accept it."

"Well enough."

The voices of Jiang Xun and Jiang Ling were heard one after another through the communication channel.

Since the Beast Mother has not yet completely cracked the human genetic code, it will not cause a large-scale outbreak of wasteland disease, and the impact it has on the front-line troops is not fatal.

For betas whose glands are not fully developed, they have only experienced occasional moments of dizziness so far. Alphas' reactions are more intense, with tachycardia, abnormally high body temperature, increased mental exhaustion, and glare in the vision.

On the 24th, they finally succeeded in reaching the end of the passage and the edge of the huge sinkhole.

Along the way, they were chased and intercepted by several waves of beasts, causing huge casualties, but they still stood here.

Under the sight, more and more desolate beasts and newly born primitive desolate beasts were flooding into the huge cone-shaped nest like a tide. Under the sweep of invisible bio-electric waves, almost everyone had a sharp tinnitus in their ears and a sharp pain in the back of their neck.

Immediately afterwards, at the command of the commander-in-chief, the unstoppable torrent of steel collided violently with the surging tide of beasts!

Under the brutal and primitive charge, this area has become a meat grinder with blood and fire flying everywhere.

The heavy mechas in the vanguard turned into mobile fortresses. Sparks flew from the thick armor under the bite of the beasts, and spurted out scorching flames from the muzzles, smashing the surging waves and covering the melee mechas as they cut out, using swords and gun barrels to smash the dirty tides step by step.

The exploding fireballs and sword lights continued to rise and break, stirring up piles of monster limbs and blood; but some mechas were also surrounded by groups of wild beasts, their cabins pierced by sharp limbs, and their fuselages torn apart by sharp claws. Finally, the cockpit deformed and shattered with a teeth-grinding metal explosion sound, and finally expanded into a blazing fireball and exploded.

In the apocalyptic torrent, even the sky was dyed a depressing dark color by the artillery fire and the flying, turbulent polluted dust, and the ground began to tremble in the collision of the steel behemoths and the brutality.

An iron-gray mecha was leading a team, heading straight towards the raised conical mountain in the center under heavy cover.

The NS01 mecha with a blue tail flame flew across the chaotic battlefield like a nimble bird. Wherever its long sword passed, blood would splash. Every roar of the huge sniper cannon on its back would accurately hit the vital points of the wild beasts. Under the cover of two mechas, one red and one blue, on its side, it continuously reaped the lives of the beasts.

forward,

forward,

Keep moving forward——

Until the team walked on layers of flesh and blood and reached the abyss-like entrance of the hill.

The glands at the back of his neck kept emitting a stabbing pain that almost pierced through his bones, and even tiny traces of red light appeared at the edges of Chen Luan's vision.

My eyes were dizzy, my heart was pounding in my chest, and there was a sharp roar echoing in my ears.

The intermittent voice of the captain of the escorting alpha team came through the communication band:

"Captain Chen—we can't get in."

"...From now on, I'll leave it to you!"

"receive."

Chen Luan pressed the microphone button, his voice was hoarse, but he tightened his grip on the scabbard in his hand.

Then he stepped into the abyss.

In the narrow corridor, a herd of beasts surged in.

This beta team, which had never been taken seriously before, was like an arrow that pierced through the clouds and mist, killing its way to the deepest part of the nest.

Energy is constantly being consumed and the team is losing members.

Chen Luan didn't know how many times he had swung the knife or fired the gun.

He just kept moving forward, forward.

Until one moment, a dazzling beam of light shone in front of him.

They saw the giant beast crouching under the towering dome deep in the lair.

The colorful, ferocious, huge beast opened its eyes from its slumber, dragging a huge belly sac that was several times larger than its body.

A sharp whistle echoed throughout the space, as if thousands of needles were piercing through the back of the neck and into the brain.

But no one backed down.

These mechas, already badly damaged from days of fierce fighting, paused for a moment before leaping forward once again, brandishing their swords amidst the surging herd of wild beasts.

As he swung his sword with all his might again and again, the chaotic glare in front of him gradually changed shape.

In a trance, Chen Luan saw Wang Xiaodou holding up a bottle of soda and clinking glasses with him in the sunshine.

Seeing my parents who had left home long ago and would never come back come through the door in the bright sunset,

Seeing Jiang Mingming's tied hair swaying,

The hand that had fist-bumped with him before leaving was spread out in front of him. In the palm of that clean hand, no longer covered with scars and blood, lay a brand new chocolate.

Then I heard her say with a smile:

"I was just kidding. I actually have one hidden. Now it's yours!"

[Warning! Energy is less than 15%]

[Warning! 87% damage to the body...

[Warning! Cockpit airtightness compromised by 71%...]

[Warning! The mental load is too heavy, please disconnect immediately——]

【warn! 】

【warn! 】

Red pop-up windows kept popping up on the console.

Waves of scarlet blood flashed at the edge of my vision, and fatigue washed over me like an icy tide.

The madly beating heart roared in the eardrums, and the heavy breathing brought a bloody smell to the throat.

...So tired.

So tired.

Dad, Mom,

I'm so tired...

sister,

I can’t hold on any longer…

I really really,

I miss you guys so much...

But he heard another sound, which rang clearly in his ears through the increasingly heavy fog.

"Chen Luan, you know you love me."

"Brother, welcome home."

"Chen Luan..."

"elder brother--"

Finally, the two identical yet not quite the same voices merged into a roar that tore through the darkness:

"Brother Chen Luan, we'll wait for you to come home."

Wait for me to come home?

Wait for me to come home.

Someone is waiting for me to come home.

So, the exhausted mecha, among its comrades who were fighting against the beast tide, and in front of the giant beast right in front of them, once again started its heavy and roaring engine.

Above the brilliant tail flame, he leaped up once again—

But the next second, a wild beast with sharp limbs also leaped up!

"bite--"

There was a sharp sound when the golden swords collided!

The wild beast screamed and spurted blood as it fell to the ground.

Those who can fall together,

There is still half of the blade that has long been unable to bear the weight.

The already somewhat chaotic grey pupils suddenly contracted.

knife,

Broken.

The sniper gun's energy has also been used up.

However, immediately afterwards, someone in the communication band shouted hoarsely:

"Captain Chen!"

"then!!!"

A streak of light flew towards him.

Chen Luan subconsciously raised his hand to catch it, and a sharp clang sounded between the collisions of metal and metal.

It's a knife.

The knife is still intact.

The fingers that had gradually lost sensation seemed to be gently wrapped by a warm force.

Countless familiar and unfamiliar voices from the past continuously flowed past his ears. It was as if countless pairs of transparent hands passed through the long years, holding Chen Luan's hand tightly, and at the same time helping him to hold the knife tightly -

"Instructor Chen, I've been selected for the mecha team!!"

"Captain Chen, I'm getting married tomorrow, remember to come to the wedding!"

"Xiao Luan, are you done with training? Come to my house and eat fish!"

"Brother Luan, hey, want some soda?"

"Chen Xiaoluan! Your handwriting is so ugly! Forget it, do you want some chocolate?"

Thousands of sentences finally merged into a clear voice:

"Chen Luan."

"You said we..."

"Can we win?"

Amid the roar of his heart, which was unable to bear the heavy burden, Chen Luan blinked slowly.

Then he gripped the knife tightly.

"We can win."

"We can win."

That day, everyone saw a blade piercing the clouds and the moon, a blade of extremely brilliant flame piercing the clouds and the moon, beneath the towering dirty blue dome deep in the beast's lair.

“Shhh——”

There was no explosion, no screaming, no roar or loud noise.

In the extreme silence, under the blazing sword light, the huge body of the beast mother, who had been resisting stubbornly for a long time, began to twitch violently.

With a whistle so sharp that it almost pierced the eardrums, the huge pale floating sac began to wither and shrink at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The cold grey figure, whose energy was about to run out, half-knelt quietly on the lowered head of the giant beast, with the same posture as the shadow that stood still in front of the gate of S17 two hundred years ago.

But he stood up again.

The moment the sword was drawn, pale liquid spurted out like a jet, and then fell weakly from mid-air.

Like a snowfall two centuries late.

it's over.

Chen Luan heard his own voice so hoarse that he could not even speak.

it's over.

*

Chen Luan, who was in a coma due to mental overload and exhaustion, woke up on the day of Jingzhe.

The cleanup work for No. 0 has entered the final stage.

After the mother beast died, all the wild beasts that were driven here began to run around like headless flies, and they were much easier to kill than before.

The pollution index in the polluted area also dropped sharply with the death of the beast mother. Perhaps in a few years, even No. 0 will be truly released and see the light of day again.

Chen Luan came out in the cool spring air, wrapped in his clothes, and found Jiang Ling and Jiang Xun lying in the next ward, seriously injured.

When the two men were escorting Chen Luan into the beast's nest and retreating, they could hardly concentrate due to the influence of the glands. They were hit hard by the beast's tail and flew more than ten meters away, breaking several bones.

When they saw him come in, two faces, identical yet very different in style, broke into smiles almost at the same time.

"Chen Luan, you're awake."

"elder brother."

Chen Luan felt distressed again when he saw the pale lips of his two brothers.

He leaned over and touched this and that, and finally pursed his lips: "Does it hurt?"

The next second, Jiang Xun took out an orange plush ball as bright as the warm sun from his arms, curled his eyes and tightened his fingers slightly.

"whisper--"

Then, those light amber eyes looked at Chen Luan seriously:

"It doesn't hurt now."

On the Qingming Festival, three people who had left the polluted area to take a vacation and recuperate arrived in Shixi Town.

In front of Uncle Seventh's grave, Chen Luan brought Jiang Ling and Jiang Xun to clink glasses with Uncle Seventh.

Later, after both of them recovered from their injuries, they went to St. Bernard Island together and stood on the silent mountain top where Chen Luan once stood alone.

The aurora in the sky is still flowing endlessly.

Under the brilliant starry sky, the two different colored gems on the ears are also shining.

The red, frozen fingertips were held by two warm hands, one on each side, and the warmth of the heartbeat could be felt from the palms pressed tightly together with the interlocked fingers.

"Chen Luan."

A light and serious voice came from my ear.

Chen Luan looked at the brilliant light in the sky and didn't look back: "Hmm?"

"Is it okay to live like this forever?"

The person squeezed in the middle let out a teasing chuckle: "Not good."

"Why?"

Chen Luan turned around leisurely and walked down the mountain. His voice, with a smile on his face, was drawn out and carried up by the wind: "Because—"

"There's only one Chen Luan, but it's not enough for the two of you—hiss, hey!!"

——End of text——

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The author has something to say: There will be a sequel~