When Wu Fangyu said this, Hiranuma Yusho glanced once more at the safe in front of him, then waved his hand and stored it into his spatial button.
Wu Fangyu rubbed her arms and tapped her brooch.
"Sister Zebra, there's a job for you..."
Before Wang Tianwei could ask for details, Hiranuma Yusho suddenly looked up, grabbed Wu Fangyu, and bolted for the door.
"Get to the mech, now!"
"Huh?"
She stumbled as he yanked her along. She'd wanted to check the flier for any usable weapons or supplies, but one look at the captain's expression told her something big was happening, so she shut her mouth and ran.
Barry was still outside clearing threats above the snow, while Taylor focused on the ones in the ice cave—these things were such a pain to kill...
Seeing the two sprinting out, they thought something had happened aboard the flier.
"Bugs inside?!"
Wu Fangyu stepped into her mech cockpit, breath still ragged.
"Don't know. Captain said we need to run."
Hiranuma Yusho's first move upon entering his cockpit was to open every comm channel, internal and external.
"Huang Yan, switch routes. Don't come from directly behind—something big has shown up on this side!"
The eight under Huang Yan were heading toward Valk along the original path; upon hearing this, they turned ninety degrees.
"What's going on?"
"Taylor! Forget those mutant beasts, move out first!"
Only after warning his teammates did Hiranuma Yusho reply.
"I just sensed something appear—its psychic pressure is higher than every bug I've ever encountered, and it's not even close. It's a league above.
We're continuing west right now..."
Huang Yan and He Siyu both turned grim at this. What Hiranuma described was very likely the so-called "leader" that "safety officer" had mentioned.
The alarm bells in Wang Tianwei's head went off immediately—was that the one eyeing her? It didn't plan to parasitize her, did it?
"Don't worry, Sister Zebra. There are plenty of us. No way we'll let it get anywhere near you!"
"Aren't they more numerous than us, though?"
"...Don't sweat the details."
"That thing wants Sister Zebra?"
Wu Fangyu ran while racking her brain—what's so special about Sister Zebra anyway?
Huang Yan checked the radar.
"We'll loop around from the southwest. Hiranuma, report your coordinates every hundred meters. Don't drift off course."
"Roger."
Hiranuma Yusho struggled to keep his voice steady.
What the hell was that thing behind them? A hyper-advanced bug?
Honestly, what he'd said earlier was already playing it safe—the psychic pressure from that thing felt more threatening than every bug he'd ever met combined...
Going head-to-head with that thing with just one squad? No chance, not even of escaping. They had to link up with Huang Yan and the others first.
Among the star beasts and mutant beasts chasing both teams, some suddenly grew unusually agitated—they turned skyward with shrieking howls, then compared to their "brethren," they seemed hopped up on something, howling and accelerating at once.
"Is there something in the wind, like a stimulant?"
Wu Pingzhuo forced the words through gritted teeth, firing backwards as he retreated.
"Careful, don't let their psychic influence get to you."
"Roger, Captain."
After the Alpha Gold Crown's star vessel docked at the port of Blizza, they switched to a small flier.
A human psychic scan brushed over him mid-route, but he paid it little mind.
His subordinate's comms had gone dead—either dead, or half-dead.
Not a Gold Crown, sure, but as a guard captain among the Alpha bugs, having grown to that level, by human standards they'd be at least S+ in psychic power.
Those kids... heh, it was worth coming here in person.
He tapped a finger on the flier's cockpit panel.
"This way."
That psychic ripple just now came from this direction.
"Yes, Leader."
Over a dozen fliers departed the starport at once. The Alpha Gold Crown casually found a seat and continued browsing his optical computer.
Every major forum in the Federation was exploding—exactly the effect he wanted. Though the voices questioning the military still weren't loud enough.
Surely after today ends, things will be different?
The military ignoring the safety of Federation students, letting them all die on Blizza. Nothing stokes human fury like student blood.
His finger slid over a profile about him—probably because he'd shown his face during that livestream.
"The host is Qi Chengyan, former Major of the First Military District, recipient of..."
Reading the lines, the Alpha Gold Crown's smile grew wider and wider. This body was one he'd carefully handpicked during that great war. Until the last line:
"Close friends with Yi Shao, the fallen Major of the Ninth Military District, and Beiliu, the Chief Mech Engineer. Years ago, they competed in the arena as the team 'Firefly'..."
Annoyed, he shut off the screen.
"Speed up."
"Yes, Leader."
"Hello? Hey, can you hear me?"
An unfamiliar voice suddenly rang through Wang Tianwei's communicator. She froze for a moment, cautious, and didn't answer right away.
Others on the student comm channel tensed up at the sound too.
"Hello? Green light, so it should be working... Is Wang Tianwei there?"
"..."
"I'll try. Everyone there? This is the Federation Military."
A different voice replaced the first, and everyone's eyes went wide—so familiar!
Wang Tianwei quickly answered.
"Yes, yes! Is that... Commander Meng?"
It couldn't be bugs trying to trick them, right?
She snuck a glance at the golden-eyed mutant beast behind her—three fliers had already been shot down. They probably didn't have that kind of tech...
On the other end, Ji Gang was thrilled. Finally! They'd gotten through to the kids! Meng Chongyun felt a weight lift off his chest.
"We're on our way to Blizza. How are you all doing?"
Wu Fangyu and the others were still sprinting for their lives. Hearing the words Sister Zebra relayed, their noses stung. Someone was finally coming to save them!
"We're holding up for now, Commander. Most of the star beasts here have been parasitized by bugs.
But we've cleared out a portion already. The rest are high-tier—they have golden eyes!"
"I know. Those are Alpha bugs."
Meng Chongyun said in a low voice.
"We've been watching the livestream. Avoid them at all costs—stay as far away as you can.
If possible, find an absolutely safe spot and hide. We'll arrive at Blizza in about thirty-four minutes.
Hold the line, everyone."
"Understood!"
Hiranuma Yusho couldn't help but speak up.
"Commander, two minutes ago, something massive arrived on Blizza. I sensed its psychic pressure—extremely powerful. It's likely the bug leader."
Damn—the Alpha Gold Crown had arrived before them.
"Ji Gang, find out how we can make the starship go faster. Have every engineer work with you!"
"On it!"
"Huang Yan, He Siyu, Hiranuma Yusho—can you all hear me?"
"Yes, Commander."
"Copy."
"Loud and clear."
"Listen. Do everything you can to avoid that thing.
That is the Alpha Gold Crown, the highest ruling class of the insect race. Its mental power is at least double S-rank. We suspect it was hiding its true strength before.
Remember, run in the opposite direction from it. Do not engage it head-on. Wait until we arrive before doing anything.
"Understood!"
"Understood."
"Copy."
