"All squads, pay attention! Focus fire on the target! First squad, flank from the east. Fourth squad, cut off the upstream passage..."
Jiang Ya issued orders in rapid succession.
Whatever that thing was, since it had said "you humans," what had returned was definitely not their former comrades.
If it was truly a case of Zerg infestation, then the Zerg could now not only talk and move, but also pilot mechs...
This had to be reported to the Commander-in-Chief immediately!
"Second squad, hold the line! Do not let him escape!"
"Roger!"
Doyle gritted his teeth as he replied.
Their current situation was grim. Walter lay on the ground, his condition unknown, and the remaining teammates were practically being suppressed single-handedly by "Qi Chengyan."
That thing wasn't just strong; its attacks were also methodical. To Doyle, it seemed like a fusion of Qi Chengyan and Walter!
If it was learning on the fly, its speed was simply too terrifying...
But how dare it use the bond between them and their comrades as bait?
Unforgivable!
An S-class psychic net stretched out, attempting to surround and crush the enemy, yet it was casually blocked before it could even touch their mental barrier.
"You've reminded me—humans don't just have mechs, they also use psychic powers to attack..."
Every soldier who heard those words knew something was wrong. The next instant, Doyle felt as if thousands of needles had been driven into his brain at once! He didn't even have time to scream before collapsing unconscious.
The remaining assaulters and mech operators suddenly felt immense pressure—in the literal sense.
It was as if they had been stuffed into a gravity training room with the setting cranked to 200%!
Mechs already carried their own weight; under these conditions, moving a single step was a struggle, let alone attacking!
"Tch, this weak?"
Whether it was direct attacks or illusionary warfare, these humans were completely defenseless.
"Qi Chengyan" sneered inside the cockpit. It seemed to be a little habit of the original body, and doing it now felt rather amusing.
He aimed the mech's full firepower at Zhou Dai.
"Next up—the assaulter."
Zhou Dai was drenched in sweat, struggling to push the mech's joystick against the crushing pressure.
"Filthy thing... I'll destroy you!"
"Other squads, speed up!! Reinforce the second squad!"
Jiang Ya's order had barely left her mouth when the two sides' firepower collided. Zhou Dai was hit by several single-soldier missiles, and her camera feed instantly went black.
Then the last mech operator's camera was destroyed as well. Even the drones in midair were shot down by "Qi Chengyan," and Jiang Ya completely lost her surveillance view!
"Say, isn't anyone coming to save them?"
Only "Qi Chengyan's" voice remained in the communication channel. Jiang Ya yanked out the space module hanging around her neck and called up her superior, Shan Yuantao.
"Commander, we have a problem..."
After ending the call, she pressed the intercom button in the ship.
"All personnel, assemble. Prepare to reinforce the first ten squads. Meet at the stern in two minutes."
"Yes, ma'am!!"
The soldiers left on guard responded with unwavering resolve.
Jiang Ya then hurried to the cockpit and gave the pilot her final orders:
"Keep an eye on the landing point's scanning station. When we return, everyone must go through scanning and decontamination there.
If anyone comes back without undergoing this procedure—no matter who they are, whether they are alive or dead, no matter how urgent the situation—you are not to allow them aboard. Even if I order it.
I am now transferring command of you to a superior. You will take orders directly from Commander Shan. If he orders you to retreat, abandon everyone and retreat immediately."
"Captain..."
"Did you hear me!?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Having given all her instructions, Jiang Ya led the reinforcements from the starship to the new planet via shuttle.
Of the ten squads sent out on the initial reconnaissance, two had already lost video and communication feeds. The cameras of the other eight were still active, though some squads were too far away and hadn't yet arrived.
Jiang Ya tried to deploy more drones to the scene, but somehow that "Qi Chengyan" had grown increasingly fond of destroying cameras.
Now he didn't even need to shoot; he could use his psychic powers to cut off the drone signals.
This also chilled the hearts of the First Corps soldiers. They had never seen psychic power like this... It was almost reaching the level of materialization! Just what was that thing?
Li Hao's Third Squad, all S-class, arrived at the target location. They unleashed their full psychic strength in an attempt to suppress the enemy as quickly as possible!
But even giving it their all, they could barely touch the enemy's psychic barrier.
"Qi Chengyan" tilted his head slightly inside the cockpit.
"Itching? I don't feel a thing."
Then he used his psychic power to send them flying.
The entire Third Squad suffered a massive blow. Even before they could fire a single shot, they were lying on the ground, bleeding from their noses and mouths, their heads throbbing with agony.
The weaker mech operators and assaulters had passed out on the spot, while the remaining two didn't even have the strength to move a finger.
"Qi Chengyan" aimed the chest-mounted howitzer at Li Hao.
"Boom!"
"Boom! Boom!"
The lethal attack was intercepted just in time by the arriving First Squad.
Li Qin, the squad leader, used the brief window to have his teammates pull several fallen soldiers to safety.
"Qi Chengyan's" mech hand then lifted, an electromagnetic cannon charging up and locking onto the escapees.
"Don't tell me you actually think saving them will make a difference? That truly surprises me..."
Li Qin had no desire to hear another word. He immediately deployed a high-energy rapid-fire cannon.
But the enemy fired two electromagnetic rounds and then smoothly transformed his mech and took to the air.
The four members of First Squad were on high alert. This was likely the enemy's first time piloting a mech, yet his demonstrated skill was already astonishing...
"Hmm, like I said—saving people is useless."
Jiang Ya was still halfway to the target point. On the command screen, the vital signs of all members of Third Squad had vanished.
"Damn it!"
Li Qin of First Squad was stunned by the piercing black-red data on his display. Impossible! The teammates on his shoulder were still alive!
"Squad! They..."
Assaulter Zhou Zilu went pale when he saw the status indicators, while heavy gunner Hu Ruipeng panted heavily.
"Fuck! I'll fight you to the death!"
"Everyone! Calm down!"
The veins on Li Qin's forehead were bulging. He gently set down the Third Squad soldiers he had been carrying.
"All squads, fall back! Keep your distance from the target! Attack from range!
Any arriving squads—beware of the target's psychic powers!"
"Roger!"
"Roger!"
Every squad pushed their speed to the absolute limit, some even exceeding safe parameters.
"Faster... We have to be faster!"
How had it come to this?
Just moments ago, everyone was still rejoicing at recovering a missing comrade. The next moment, that thing wearing "Qi Chengyan's" face had turned around and killed the teammates they had left?
...A threat like this could never be allowed to infiltrate the Federation!
