In the silent void of space.
While Tianshui Star was engulfed in the flas of war, the two manned rockets, "Dream Boat One" and "Empire Pioneer," launched by Beixing and the Suroma Empire respectively, arrived and landed on the satellite Terra as scheduled.
Everything went smoothly during the landing, with no accidents occurring.
Given the technological level of Beixing and Suroma, achieving this was not surprising.
Because the space migration plans represented by the two rockets were exceptionally important, being one of the crucial paths to preserve human civilization. Therefore, no matter how chaotic things were on the mother planet Tianshui now, it would not affect this plan.
After the landing was complete, the exploration machines carried on the rockets began their work outside the module first, while the astronauts waited for the results and then acted according to instructions from the ground-based space agency.
"Fortunately, this rule doesn't affect us."
The astronauts in Dream Boat One chatted while waiting.
"Right. I wouldn't want to worry about rules while carrying out a mission."
"But back ho is a bit chaotic now, right? Seems like they're fighting."
"Even if they're fighting, it doesn't affect us here on Terra. As long as they don't destroy the space agency, that is, otherwise we can't go back!"
"If even the national space agency gets destroyed, going back would probably an returning to nothing but ruins..."
[Data analysis complete]
At this mont, the rocket system issued a prompt sound, and the astronauts stopped their idle chatter, focusing their attention.
Not long after, the space agency sent a ssage.
"Proceed with the established mission: attempt to establish a small ground-based survival point."
The astronauts received the command, thodically donned their spacesuits, and opened the hatch.
The mont their feet touched the surface of Terra, every astronaut felt imnse excitent inside.
If not for the Fire Thief and the Doomsday Rules, they would undoubtedly be the focus of the entire world's attention.
It's just a pity the Doomsday Rules stole their spotlight. Now, the general populace on Tianshui Star was preoccupied with the war, and many had even forgotten that the two manned rockets would land on Terra today.
But it didn't matter; this mont's scenery belonged solely to the astronauts.
They looked up.
Terra had no atmosphere, so from their perspective, they could see directly into space.
Although using a cara to capture it would cause overexposure issues, making the universe appear pitch black. But looking with the naked eye, they could still see those slightly dim stars and that blue planet hanging in the endless depths of space, humanity's ho, Tianshui Star.
The overview effect gave each astronaut an indescribable emotional surge at this mont.
They felt their ho planet was both magnificent and insignificant, both resilient and fragile.
Thinking further about how such a beautiful place had beco disaster-ridden due to the Fire Thief's rampage, a wave of anger also welled up from the astronauts' hearts.
"Alright, stop looking," the team leader of Dream Boat One said. "Carry out the mission first. Start building the survival point according to the division of labor from training. Once the survival point is built, you can look as long as you want."
"Understood."
The astronauts withdrew their gazes and sprang into action.
To establish a survival point, it must et human survival needs.
The most basic are food and shelter, as well as oxygen.
Food and oxygen were temporarily provided by the nutrient packs and oxygen replenishnt tanks carried on the rocket, while shelter was temporarily replaced by specially designed inflatable modules.
However, to establish a long-term survival point, it would definitely require launching more rockets to transport materials and other resources, or, going a step further, using thods like 3D printing technology to build permanent structures on Terra by mining Terra's ores and other resources.
But these were long-term preparations. For now, the astronauts' mission was to conduct a minimal results verification, aning first establishing a temporary survival point to verify habitability feasibility.
After the inflatable module was fully deployed, the astronauts continuously retrieved more equipnt from the rocket for assembly.
Radiation shielding layers, high-efficiency solar energy storage arrays, low-consumption small-scale electrolysis equipnt, and so on.
[Empire Pioneer - Communication Link Established]
"Hey, how are things on your end?"
The team leader of the Empire Pioneer's voice ca through the communication device.
The two rockets did not land in adjacent areas; each had its own chosen landing site.
The Dream Boat One team leader replied, "Everything is going smoothly so far. What about you?"
"We're also going smoothly, currently establishing the survival point!"
"Good, keep in touch."
After the Dream Boat One team leader finished speaking, he suddenly glanced back.
Behind him, apart from the space rocket, there was only the endless expanse of gray-white soil on Terra's surface.
Was it my imagination?
For a fleeting mont just now, the team leader felt as if he was being watched by so kind of gaze.
...
"Air and Space Forces have completed air defense suppression in areas A1-A13."
"Drone squadrons and ground mine-clearing units are deployed and advancing."
Outskirts of the capital Wuze, Black Flag Country.
The Human Consortium Joint Force was launching a fierce assault on this city.
Based on satellite locks and ground radar reconnaissance results, the Joint Force determined that the main force of the parasitized forms was concentrated within Wuze City.
Capturing this city and apprehending the parasitized forms within it was the Joint Force's objective.
As for those parasitized forms hiding in the mountains and wild forests, the Joint Force did not intend to search for them for now.
This was the "grab the big, let go of the small" strategy formulated by the Human Consortium Strategic Command.
Due to urgency on all fronts, the Joint Force did not have the ti to eliminate every city occupied by parasitized forms bit by bit.
What the Joint Force needed to do was to use the advantage of the Air and Space Forces to completely suppress the parasitized forms' air defense, then, via air transport, deploy large numbers of soldiers and combat robots into Wuze City.
As long as they occupied this place, the parasitized forms in other areas would lose their core. Even if they could continue to lie low and flee, they would be unable to pose a threat to humanity as a whole in the short term.
At this mont, drone squadrons filled the sky, forming a matrix as they swept forward. Mine-clearing vehicles on the ground detonated and cleared all the hidden mines deployed by the parasitized forms near the city.
As for the soldiers, they were all waiting.
In this era where human lives were incredibly precious, the Joint Force would rather lose a thousand drones than lose a single human soldier.
First, drones would eliminate threats, then robot soldiers would take the lead, with human soldiers responsible for mopping up. This was the human-centric combat thod.
And even more precious than ordinary soldiers were naturally the Joint Force's special combat teams—teams composed of powerful Ascendants from various nations.
"War is truly terrifying... If I were a parasitized form, seeing these drones swarming the sky, I'd probably only feel despair."
A young man with waist-length golden hair and jade-green eyes looked at the sky above Wuze, his tone carrying a hint of emotion.
"They can only bla themselves for choosing the wrong country to seize. The Black Flag Country's military strength was already weak to begin with, with few high-tech weapons. What do they have to contend with the Joint Force?"
"Their dumbest move was actually daring to announce the establishnt of a country, showing too little regard for us humans."
"Taking this opportunity to wipe them out in one go is perfect. We can send them to Xisiya before the rules end to be used as food for that alien intelligence entity in exchange for answers."
The elite Ascendants from various countries discussed, their words and tone full of contempt for the parasitized forms.
The golden-haired young man sensed this sentint and said, "Everyone, don't be too careless. The enemy is very cunning."
"Adam, with your strength, there's no need to be this cautious, right?"
"Most of the hosts these parasitized forms possess are ordinary people. Even if they tap into so of the body's potential for enhancent, they still can't compare to us. Let alone compare to you, Adam."
This golden-haired young man was precisely the Ascendant Adam sent by the Suroma Empire.
In the past, the Suroma Empire had spared no effort in promoting Adam, making his reputation very large among the world's Ascendants.
Moreover, unlike other famous Ascendants, Adam's reputation was extrely positive; almost no one spoke ill of him, and he hadn't done anything outrageous.
In contrast, Lucifer, another famous Ascendant from Suroma, was equally famous but notorious, having long beco a public enemy.
As for Shadow, while his fa was even greater, many could not agree with so of his thods.
Especially concerning the several assassination incidents involving him. Even if investigations afterward provided evidence that those he assassinated were heinous criminals, many still could not accept it.
The reason was the belief that his actions would set a wrong example, creating a trend of Ascendants taking the law into their own hands, making the world more chaotic and disordered.
For these reasons, the mont Adam arrived on the battlefield, he beca the core figure of the Joint Force Ascendant team, highly revered.
Now, hearing everyone's belittlent and disdain for the parasitized forms, Adam shook his head slightly and didn't say anything more.
"Ascendant team, listen up."
At this mont, the voice of the Joint Force commander ca through everyone's earpieces.
"We have received intelligence indicating that the parasitized form high-level group is suspected to be hiding in the shelter deep beneath the National Sacrificial Hall in the city. In twenty minutes, the Joint Force will conduct a bunker-busting bombardnt on that area."
"Your mission is only one: board the transport aircraft, airdrop above the National Sacrificial Hall, and capture the remaining high-level parasitized forms in the underground shelter."
...
Sainantata town.
After Guan Tong finished speaking to Uenoshi, the latter had fallen into silence, unsure how to respond.
The person he had killed for revenge was actually the biological older brother of the Xisiya Administrator.
Even if his relationship with Yelanka was good, this involved the killing of a family mber; how could that compare?
Uenoshi found it absurd that Guan Tong could still sleep in this town. The safe and prudent approach should have been to leave imdiately after taking revenge.
Moreover, she really couldn't understand how Guan Tong thought he had a chance to get Yelanka's permission to approach the alien intelligence entity... through deception?
"You think if you don't tell her, she might not know you killed him?"
"...No. As long as she knows I'm in Xisiya, she'll definitely know I killed him."
"Why? Did you tell her you were coming to Xisiya to kill her brother?"
"Yes."
"..."
Uenoshi couldn't figure out what was going on.
Guan Tong explained, "It sounds complicated, but it can be explained in one sentence. That is, Yelanka and her brother didn't have deep feelings for each other."
If the older brother had any feelings for his younger sister, why would he have sent assassins to threaten and attempt to kill his sister's teacher back then?
From this one incident, Guan Tong could see the superficial nature of their sibling bond.
Moreover, considering that Yelanka later beca the Administrator while Lijeka was exiled to the Ice Field prison, the struggle between them was probably even more intense.
"But... he is still her brother, isn't he? You'd better be careful."
"Mm."
Buzz.
A vibration ca from his pocket. Guan Tong took out his phone.
"It's Zhang Minglu."
"That researcher from the office?"
After the joint operation against Yuzawa Jun last ti, Uenoshi also learned that Dr. Zhang Minglu was essentially Guan Tong's contact person for cooperation with the Beixing Counterasures Research Office.
"It's him."
Guan Tong read the ssage Zhang Minglu sent and was very surprised.
"Mind Network... Let's go, Uenoshi, we need to go out."
Uenoshi got up and followed Guan Tong out of the tavern, returning to their rented guest room.
"Zhang Minglu told
that the Human Consortium asked the alien black mud the question 'How to identify parasitized forms.' Among the answers it gave, the only part humans could understand was 'Mind Network.'"
"Mind Network can identify parasitized forms?"
Uenoshi was also astonished to hear this, not understanding the connection between the two.
She speculated, "Could it just be to exclude ordinary people?"
The Mind Network could only be used by Ascendants, and the vast majority of parasitized forms were transford from ordinary people. If the Mind Network could be rebuilt, then by excluding ordinary people, those within the network could trust each other.
"Not necessarily," Guan Tong said. "Although Ascendants are few, so have also transford into parasitized forms. Even if the Mind Network is restarted..."
He paused, uncertain. "Could it be that Ascendants who transform into parasitized forms beco unable to establish a Mind Network with ordinary Ascendants? Is that the key to identification?"
Uenoshi asked, "Does Zhang Minglu have a way to rebuild the Mind Network?"
"Not for now. He just said that so Academician Han in the research office proposed finding the world's top Ascendants for testing."
"That definitely includes you. Will you agree?"
"If it were only Zhang Minglu, I might agree. But this Academician Han... although he's from the research office, I've never had any interaction with him, and I don't trust him yet."
"Then refuse."
Uenoshi was quite straightforward. Since Yuzawa Jun's death, she seed to have gained perspective, becoming more direct in both speech and action.
"That's what I'm thinking too. Especially since Zhang Minglu's aning is that I would need to go to the Counterasures Research Office's base to participate in the testing. That's not very likely."
Uenoshi nodded. She knew Guan Tong still wanted to see if there was a chance to ask the alien intelligence entity a question; he definitely wouldn't leave Xisiya to return to Beixing at this ti.
"However, we can test it ourselves," Guan Tong looked at Uenoshi. "The upper limits of our Mind Power can rank among the top in the world among Ascendants. If we fail, it ans this path is impassable."
"Alright."
The two decided to try imdiately.
Back then, establishing the Mind Network was extrely simple. As long as both parties' Mind Power made contact and they simultaneously held the thought "establish network" in their minds.
Now, Guan Tong extended his hand, and Uenoshi also removed her glove, revealing a palm covered in scales.
Her Mind Power could flow freely over the scales, while Guan Tong could use Mind Power Flow to concentrate his Mind Power as energy in his hand.
After clasping hands, they both silently thought in their minds: "Establish Mind Network."
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