"Listen to the bugle call of the new expedition, the goal of a strong military calls us ahead."
"The country must be strong, so we must shoulder the duty,
The battle flags are covered with iron and blood glory..."
Her singing was clear and resonant, as if carrying a soul-piercing power that instantly spread across the chaotic battlefield.
Those soldiers whose Mental Power was beginning to riot had been shrouded in fear and exhaustion, but upon hearing Muxi's singing, they felt as if an injection of adrenaline had been administered.
Their eyes gradually cleared, and their trembling hands gripped their weapons once more as they plunged back into the fight.
At the same time, Muxi's Mental Power spread outward with her song.
The Zerg approaching them seemed to be struck by an invisible shock the moment they touched this Mental Power, and were pushed back several meters.
Their previously frenzied offensive momentum stalled, seemingly held in check by this unseen force.
This very moment provided the Third Legion with an opportunity to counterattack.
Unlike the encouragement felt by the Third Legion, Muxi's singing brought no comfort whatsoever to the special operations soldiers of the Diluo Empire; on the contrary, it disrupted their minds.
"What the hell is going on with this damn sound?"
The blue-haired man who could control the Zerg clutched his head, his face contorted in agony.
Under the disruption of Muxi's singing, his Mental Power could no longer maintain control over the Zerg, and his head felt as if it were about to split open.
A nearby Diluo special operative also wore a look of terror, shouting to his comrade, "This sound is bizarre! It's disrupting our minds—hurry up and find a way to kill her!"
Muxi's singing still echoed across the battlefield. The impassioned melody made her side's soldiers more resilient with every setback, while the enemies from the Diluo Empire grew increasingly panicked.
The battle lasted for a day and two nights. Muxi sang song after song until her throat was hoarse.
Every single note squeezed from her dry, aching throat carried an indomitable will.
Her voice gradually grew hoarse and rough, yet the power of her singing never diminished in the slightest.
One impassioned melody after another still echoed across the smoke-filled battlefield, inspiring her comrades to press forward bravely while relentlessly hammering at the fragile nerves of the Diluo enemies.
The young man capable of controlling the Zerg had long since been tortured beyond recognition by Muxi's singing.
He collapsed into the corner of the field command ship, clutching his head with both hands, and muttered to himself, "Why won't this damn noise stop..."
The other special operatives were also tormented to the point of utter exhaustion. Under the continuous disruption of Muxi's singing, their Mental Power could barely be deployed normally, and their attacks became chaotic and disorganized.
Fesili fought valiantly inside his companion mecha, his peripheral vision casting worried glances toward Muxi's location from time to time.
Seeing Muxi's face flushed from singing with all her might, and her lips cracked and bleeding, his heart filled with heartache and deep respect.
"Muxi, stop! You've already done enough!"
Muxi merely shook her head slightly, swallowed the sweet taste of blood rising in her throat, and continued to sing.
She could not stop. Once she stopped, the soldiers who had finally been pacified and inspired might plunge into panic once again, and the Zerg and Diluo enemies would seize the chance to counterattack.
On the battlefield, the soldiers of the Third Legion were also deeply moved by Muxi's persistence.
They swung their weapons and roared as they charged toward the enemy, refusing to retreat even a single step despite being covered in wounds.
The blue-haired man ultimately suffered a backlash, dark blood spilling from the corners of his lips.
"You must kill her." With those words, he passed out completely.
Without his control, the Zerg army lost its backbone and instantly collapsed.
Left without guidance, the Zerg became chaotic and disorderly, fleeing wildly in all directions.
By this time, Muxi's voice was completely gone. She leaned against a metal door, watching weakly as Fesili walked toward her.
Fesili reached her side and gently helped her up, his eyes filled with deep tenderness.
"You were magnificent, Muxi." Fesili's voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling.
"I agree to let you stay."
Unable to speak, Muxi managed to pull off a weak smile in response.
The smoke had not yet fully dissipated, and the air was thick with the pungent stench of gunpowder, the smell of blood, and the scorched odor radiating from the burnt earth.
Across the battlefield lay the mangled remains of Zerg and the corpses of Diluo special operatives. Broken weapons and scattered mecha parts all testified to the fierce and brutal nature of the battle.
Holding the weak Muxi in his arms, Fesili walked slowly across the scarred battlefield.
Some soldiers were helping each other bandage their wounds, while others sat slumped on the ground in exhaustion, yet smiles hung on their faces and tears slipped from the corners of their eyes.
"We won! We actually won!"
A young soldier shouted excitedly, his voice somewhat hoarse from emotion.
Medical teams hurried back and forth through the crowd, swiftly lifting the heavily wounded onto stretchers and sending them to the makeshift medical station.
Those with lighter injuries volunteered to help, despite carrying wounds of their own.
After a brief rest, the soldiers began clearing the battlefield.
They carried the remains of their fallen comrades together, while weapons and mecha parts were gathered—those that could be repaired were set aside for future battles.
Gradually, the battlefield was cleaned up, and the afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the land, draping it in a layer of golden gauze.
The soldiers stood in neat rows; though every face bore signs of fatigue, their postures remained upright.
...
Muxi woke up in pain. Her throat felt fiery, as if a ball of fire were burning inside it.
She opened her eyes with difficulty to a somewhat dim environment, the faint scent of disinfectant lingering at the tip of her nose, and realized she was in a starship medical bay.
She wanted to speak, but only a dry, faint hissing sound came from her throat; she could not make a sound at all.
At that moment, the door was gently pulled open, and the doctor who had previously examined her walked in.
Seeing that Muxi was awake, the doctor wore a gentle smile and said softly, "You're awake. Don't rush to speak; your throat is severely injured, so get some proper rest first."
Seeming to read the emotions in her eyes, the doctor explained, "The battle is over. You're our great hero, you know."
Muxi's heart relaxed, and her tense nerves eased slightly. The pain in her throat even seemed to dull a bit. She forced a smile to acknowledge the doctor's words.
The doctor gently propped Muxi up and fed her a few sips of water. When the warm liquid flowed down her throat, though it offered a slight reprieve from the pain, it was still a drop in the bucket.
Before long, Fesili learned that Muxi had awakened and hurried to the medical bay.
As soon as he stepped into the ward and saw Muxi's haggard and weak appearance, his eyes filled with heartache.
He strode to the bedside, gently took Muxi's hand, and his gaze held a depth of worry she had never seen before: "Focus on recovering; don't worry about anything else."
Looking into Fesili's unmasked concern, Muxi felt a warmth spread through her chest and nodded slightly.
Knowing she could not speak, Fesili handed her a temporary communicator.
He taught her how to use it.
Muxi's eyes lit up as she nodded in thanks.
She typed a line of text on it: "I heard you agree to let me stay. No backing out."
Fesili reached out and patted her hair, which hadn't been washed in days, letting out a soft hum of agreement.
Seeing this scene from the side, the doctor rubbed their eyes in disbelief, and finally offered a parting warning: "Commander, although Miss Muxi is awake now, her body is still very weak and she needs complete rest for a time. Her diet will also require special attention."
With that, the doctor took their leave.