"Commander, half of our soldiers are currently descending into mania! If we don't stop this immediately, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
The adjutant reported the situation to the commander with anxious urgency, his voice brimming with panic and concern. The man addressed as the commander wore a grave expression; his light gray eyes held a chill that was daunting to behold. Even in such a moment of crisis, he remained unflappable, not even a single wrinkle appearing on his brow.
On the command console, a virtual screen displayed the battle unfolding outside the starship. Countless soldiers, affected by the Broodmother's sonic waves, had fallen into a frenzied state and were turning their weapons on their own comrades. As the Broodmother's waves continued to spread, more and more soldiers were compromised. Some were even losing the ability to maintain their human forms.
"Immediately report to base and request reinforcements!" the commander stated, his face devoid of emotion. As he finished speaking, he manipulated the command buttons to issue his next directive. "Third Legion mecha squadrons, take note: Eighth Squadron, provide cover for the infantry to retreat! Fifth and Tenth Squadrons, hold the rear!"
His icy voice carried through the comms system, but the scene was a state of total chaos; the soldiers who had lost control could not hear a word.
"It's too late," the signal officer reported back, having tried to reach the base. "The soldiers who lost control have completely feralized."
"Reporting to the commander!" the officer added, "The signal is cut off. We cannot establish a connection with the base."
The command room fell into a dead silence. Their military used the latest, most advanced signal sources—technology that wouldn't be interrupted even deep underwater. There was only one possibility for this failure to contact the base: there was a signal jammer nearby. But with the battlefield in complete disarray, knowing this was of little help.
Outside, more and more soldiers were dying at the hands of their own allies. Even the mecha pilots, who possessed higher levels of Mental Power, were being affected; they began to feralize and plummeted from their cockpits, only to be slaughtered by the Zerg soldiers' pincers before they even hit the ground.
Another report came into the command room from the front lines: "Reporting to the commander, our rear has been completely surrounded by the Zerg army. A retreat is impossible."
"Damn it! I'm going out there to blow those beasts to pieces!" The adjutant stormed out of the command room, summoned his personal mecha, and exited through the airlock.
The commander glanced in the direction the adjutant had left, withdrew his gaze, and continued to observe the battlefield. As more soldiers fell, despair slowly permeated the Third Legion. Once fear took root, morale vanished, and the entire army stood on the brink of total annihilation.
The commander closed his eyes, preparing to issue a final communique. Just then, a strange sound drifted from afar. It sounded like singing, yet the language was unintelligible.
*"The Five-Star Red Flag flutters in the wind, the song of victory rings so loud..."*
As the strange melody rose, those soldiers who had been disturbed by the Broodmother's sonic waves gradually regained their senses. The madness in their eyes began to fade, replaced by clarity, and the soldiers who had feralized from their mania reverted back to human form.
"Commander, they've recovered! The uncontrolled soldiers are back to normal!"
The commander's previously emotionless pupils suddenly constricted, his hand trembling as it gripped the control button. He closed his eyes to release his Mental Power, quickly capturing the female's voice. As the song spread, a powerful wave of Mental Power rippled out, with her at the center. Even someone as composed as he was shocked by this turn of events.
The wounded soldiers seemed to be infused with a new energy; their bodies healed from the inside out, and each one returned to their peak state. The melodic singing continued, dispelling the attacks brought on by the Broodmother's sonic waves and severing the interference.
"Third Legion, all units, take orders! Full-scale attack! Kill the Broodmother!"
Following his command, the sounds of gunfire, artillery, and shouting intertwined. After a grueling battle, the Broodmother’s defenses were gradually dismantled, and she was slain. Without the Broodmother, the Zerg army instantly collapsed and was soon driven back. The soldiers began to methodically clear the battlefield and tend to the wounded.
The commander watched the retreating Zerg army and instructed his adjutant to stay behind to manage the aftermath. He then piloted his mecha toward the area where the voice had originated.
Commander Fesili stepped out of his mecha cockpit, but he didn't emerge from the craft immediately. It was late at night, and the sky was pitch black. However, Orks possessed excellent vision; even at night, they could see clearly—the higher their Mental Power, the better their night vision. From his position, he could see into the tree hollow perfectly. Curled up inside the narrow space was a female. Her clothes were stained with mud and debris, and there were many tears in the fabric. His ears twitched as he caught the sound of the little female’s sobbing. It was impossible to know what kind of grievance had made her cry so bitterly.
It was difficult to associate such a delicate, soft female with the top-tier Guide who had just saved their entire legion by singing. Yet, the mental fluctuations emanating from her told him that she was indeed the one he was looking for.
Perhaps her legs had gone numb, as the little female shifted her body to stretch. As she raised her head, her face was fully revealed to Fesili. The dirt on her face did not diminish her beauty; instead, it added a touch of fragile, heart-wrenching vulnerability. Fesili’s normally cold and hardened heart was struck by her soft, pathetic appearance, and a piece of his resolve crumbled.
Without further hesitation, he walked toward the tree hollow.
Muxi heard the footsteps, her heart tightening, and her body instantly tensed. She instinctively curled in on herself, gazing toward the outside of the tree hollow with terror in her eyes. It was too dark, and even after being in the darkness for a while, she could only make out a rough outline, but that was enough to scare her half to death. Her hands gripped the dry grass around her tightly.
"What do you want? Don't... don't come over here! I'm actually very strong!" Muxi shouted, her tone fierce but inwardly trembling, her wavering voice betraying her panic. She puffed out her chest, trying to use her presence to scare Fesili away.
Fesili: "..." *How can such a cute female exist? She’s clearly so scared that tears are about to fall.*
Fesili leaned forward slightly, extending a hand as if to touch Muxi. Muxi recoiled instinctively, her eyes full of vigilance. "Don't come in!"
Fesili’s hand stopped in mid-air, and after a moment, he slowly withdrew it. "I am Fesili, Commander of the Chinese Empire's Third Legion. It is dangerous here. Please, come with me!"
He had intended to coax her into returning with him, but his tone had been too icy, scaring her into tears instead. "Why are you crying?" Was he really that terrifying?
Hearing Fesili, Muxi didn't stop her tears; instead, she cried even harder. She sobbed while watching him vigilantly, as if he were some kind of terrifying monster. Fesili was speechless; he had never encountered such a situation. He wanted to comfort Muxi but didn't know how.
"I won't hurt you." Seeing she didn't believe him, Fesili handed her his badge, which had his name engraved on it. "This is my badge."
Muxi stared blankly at the badge in his hand. *Third Legion, Fesili? The cold, aloof commander from the book who was the only one unaffected by the female lead's halo? The female lead's early-dying first love? Why is he here?*
"Where is this?"
Fesili gave a rare, patient explanation: "This is the abandoned Ancient Earth. It is very dangerous." He paused, then continued, "I don't know why a female like you appeared here, but for your safety, I must take you back to the military."
Upon realizing that he really was Fesili, Muxi’s tense body slowly relaxed. The string that had been pulled taut in her heart finally loosened, and she collapsed in exhaustion. Fesili caught her before she could fall, picked her up, and headed toward the military camp.