Chapter 402: Great Wall! (120,000 Moon Tickets Requested)

Boom boom boom.

The clear sky over Shuguang City did not last long; after noon, the heavens were once again shrouded in dark clouds, and a light drizzle began to patter down, cooling the air.

Along several main roads in the east and north of the city, large convoys of survivors roared away at intervals, kicking up clouds of dust; rubble and uncollected garbage littered the ground, soaked by rain, while posters once symbolizing prosperity, now faded on walls and alleyways, dripped rhythmic taps from the raindrops. Corpses of grotesque creatures twisted in death were visible everywhere; Garrison Command and Taitiewei troops were using bulldozers and engineering mechs to clear key thoroughfares.

In residential buildings and encampment zones, survivors who could not evacuate stood on rooftops and behind windows, watching the endless convoys depart, their gazes tense and complex; had it not been for the Phoenix Society's announcement that Garrison Command and Taitiewei were now fully securing Shuguang City, panic and despair would have already spread uncontrollably.

The city, once home to nearly seven million, had lost more than half its population in just two days; those remaining were mostly the poor and weak from the former outer districts, along with numerous small and medium-sized convoys.

They lacked heavy firepower, or had long since lost the courage to flee; now, they bet everything on Shuguang City's two walls, and more and more survivors joined efforts to help Taitiewei and Garrison Command clear the city.

Above the inner city, the Phoenix Society's Sky-Patrol Vessel and the Taitiewei fleet hovered silently over the Starport, symbolizing that the city had been taken over by the Phoenix Society, and basic order had been temporarily restored.

In a large conference room, Lin Xian sat by the window, gazing silently at Shuguang City under the rain and the massive Wall No. 1.

An emergency meeting was underway; Ye Lan of the Phoenix Society, Xu Zhenyue and Hu Jiang of the North American United Front, Lu Tianye, Commander of the Garrison Command, Qi Nuo of the Nightwalkers, former Federation Senator Xu Yan, Luo Ming, Minister of the Seraphim Division, and numerous senior Phoenix Society officials were all present. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive; the news of Chen Sixuan and Lin Xian's successful return was like a funeral bell, crashing against the hearts of every senior officer.

"Report: At 11: 6 today, a super-large atmospheric organism was detected in the Yunlan direction during a storm. It launched an attack on the city before nightfall; based on scale, this appears to be a probe. The organism has been designated Class-S No. 16, officially named 【Sky-Touch】. This is footage transmitted by the Sky-Surveyor."

The reporter was Hu Jiang's junior officer, a young military officer, who continued: "Additionally, movement traces of No. 19 organism 【Wanderer】 from Star Abyss No. 8 were detected in the Tianwei direction, heading toward Shuguang City. Seismic wave detection from Mount Qilian preliminarily suggests it may be No. 11 organism 【Earth-Surge】. Finally, from Star Abyss No. 5..."

"The Corpse Driver."

The officer's expression turned stern: "So far, four confirmed super-large disasters are all advancing toward Shuguang City. Only the direction of the organism from Mount Qilian remains uncertain."

"Stop saying 'uncertain'—assume they're all coming!" Hu Jiang, a steady-faced, slightly overweight middle-aged man with hawk-like eyes radiating military ferocity, spoke with a regional accent, tapping his fingers on the table. "Four Class-S monsters. How do we fight this?"

Lu Tianye's voice was hoarse: "Since the Dawn Day, the Interstellar Military has never faced four Class-S grotesques simultaneously. Even without the Corpse Driver, just these three are already overwhelming."

"The Corpse Driver is Shijieji. We know the least about these two types of organisms. The Phoenix Society judges that, based on scale and destructive behavior, they may exceed Class-S." General Xu of the United Front added: "Our earlier exploration of the Subterranean Parasite No. 1 in Siberia suffered catastrophic losses—not just from direct threats, but from the dark infection these beings emit. Our elite troops simply cannot withstand it."

"Wall No. 1 was never built to withstand Class-S organisms."

At this point, former Federation Senator Xu Yan spoke up: "If there were only one, concentrated firepower and the wall might hold. But with four—including ones from sky and ground—our defenses are useless."

"We must evacuate as quickly as possible." Minister Luo Ming said: "General Xu is right. Walls and firepower aren't the key issue. As these four grotesques approach, we don't even know what kind of chaos their dark infection will cause. Most people in the city still don't know. If they find out, despair could explode—even before nightfall, mutations might begin."

"Evacuate? Where to?"

Qi Nuo, head of the Nightwalkers, sat in a wheelchair; his left lower leg had been surgically replaced with a mechanical prosthetic. In his words, aside from a slight difference in weight between his feet and the inability to scratch his toes, it made no difference.

He flicked ash and spoke sharply: "Can we evacuate three million people before nightfall? Or should we abandon them all to die?"

"It's no longer about three million." Lu Tianye's gaze turned to Lin Xian, silent in the corner: "According to your Moonstring Operation intel, Shuguang City and other locations—including Reykjavik, the Dawn Center at Tianji Qionggu Strait, Phoenix City in Ushuaia, South America, the North American Alaska United Front, Dayangzhou's Noah and Republic Refuge Islands—all may face the same fate tomorrow or the day after."

"I don't understand—how did things spiral to this?"

Hu Jiang shook his head: "Could our strategic assessment be wrong? Is the dark's probe only targeting Shuguang City?"

"Don't entertain illusions. Prepare for the worst."

Suddenly, debate over strategic deployment grew heated. Humanity faced a grim, hopeless dilemma. Lin Xian's head spun; while the leaders debated, he quietly left the room.

He needed air. The City Ring had scoured the entire city; after a night of battle, devouring the Starship, Lin Xian felt like a walking corpse.

He didn't know if it was physical exhaustion, grief for Chen Sixuan, the Infinite Alliance crew, or the remaining elderly, sick, children, and weak convoys—and perhaps the approaching end of humanity—that twisted his soul into a deep vortex, suffocating him.

In the corridors of the Sky-Patrol Vessel, crowds bustled constantly. Managing the operation of such a vast city was no small task: emergency teams, medical units, supplies, water, air, dark-mark detection, repairs, even psychological and disease services—tens of thousands of Phoenix Society staff worked tirelessly. At emergency supply points across districts, lines of people stretched for kilometers, waiting for food and supplies.

What they received was just a loaf of bread and a small bottle of water—but with optional extras: canned meat or fresh fruit. If you chose fruit or vegetables, you received a fresh item grown in Phoenix Society or Federation cultivation bases: two apples, half a cauliflower, something like that.

Such items were rare luxuries; many hadn't tasted fresh food in years. Green vegetables and fruit also helped balance the body's dark-infection toxins—making them precious resources.

On the Infinite Alliance side, Jian Xuxi, Chen Sixuan, Shi Diyuan, Jiang Yun, and others were urgently organizing supplies and weapons for the coming mass evacuation and war. An extended joint train had been hastily assembled; per Lin Xian's orders, it carried as many people as possible. No one cared about resources or profit anymore.

At Chengxinggang Station, the fifteen-kilometer-long joint train had been extended by Shi Diyuan, Old Mo, Luo Yang, and others, who urgently gathered dozens of additional carriages from the station's repair and freight zones—all attached to the rear. Whether rusted freight cars, abandoned orbital or passenger cars, or even mining carts, they now served as shelters for helpless survivors.

Children, women, abandoned wounded, the weak—like drowning people clutching at straws—boarded one after another. No one complained if they got only a filthy corner.

The station now resembled Dunkirk's great evacuation: crowds packed tightly, holding up whatever supplies they had, raising infants in swaddling clothes, hoping to board Shuguang City's final doomsday train.

Chen Sixuan and other core members of the Infinite Alliance wore grim expressions. Everyone felt the suffocating pressure of a storm about to break.

Sha Sha stood atop the Infinite train, gazing at the endless sea of people, her small face furrowed: "Sister Chen, so many people... can we save them all?"

Chen Sixuan didn't answer directly: "We do what we can."

"Steel Brothers accept applicants! Gun owners prioritized! No gun? Have skills! Repair, medical, farming—all welcome! Repeat! Anyone mobile and unmarked can join! Only 300 spots left!"

On the survivor frequency, a hoarse male voice roared through electromagnetic static, with engine roars and metal clanging in the background.

"East District convoy, attention! East District convoy, attention! We have thirteen armored trucks, ample fuel, but need fire cover! Can fit about 200 more—gather at the old power plant in Pingcheng! Repeat—"

"All units, this is the Red Flag Alliance. We're assembling in the old industrial zone of North Outer City. Our convoy will advance slowly toward Qingbo City. All foot survivors may join. Form up and provide cover!"

On the survivor channels, information was jammed: recruitment calls, distress signals, shouts, real-time zone updates—all overlapping.

"Lin Xian, the joint train can carry at most four thousand people. Other Alliance convoys—Wang Hongyuan's and He Linqiu's—can add at most five thousand more."

Lin Xian stood on the rooftop of Shuangxing Tower, leaning on the edge, feeling the wind. In his earpiece, Chen Sixuan's voice came through.

"If the Sky-Heaven Train opens fully for passengers, it could squeeze in at least ten thousand more. What's the situation now? Where does the Phoenix Society want us to move these people?" Jian Xuxi's voice added.

"If we're to reach Qingbo or Pingcheng before nightfall, we must depart by 16: 0 to avoid dark-mark contamination," Shi Diyuan said on the comm channel.

"The vehicle convoys must leave first, or we won't have enough time," Jiang Yun said.

Lin Xian listened to the voices in his earpiece, his thoughts chaotic. He muted it. The world fell silent. He wanted two minutes of peace, just to look at this world.

But he couldn't calm down. His mind kept returning to what Chen Sixuan had said.

A gentle breeze blew. Lin Xian suddenly noticed a tiny black ant, blown onto his hand. Since Dawn Day, most life on Blue Star had perished; only resilient subterranean creatures remained. Ants had once been common insects, but Lin Xian couldn't recall the last time he'd seen one.

The ant didn't know where it was. To it, the breeze was a flood that had swept it from one alien world into another.

Now, its world was a hairy plain—hairs as stiff as thorns. It had to climb carefully. Soon, four hills appeared. It didn't know they were Lin Xian's knuckles. It climbed to the peak, then descended into the valley. Suddenly, the hills shook—as if an earthquake struck. The ant panicked, accelerating.

The four hills weren't identical. After climbing two, the ant noticed the next two were noticeably shorter. Good—it had safely passed the trembling zone.

Lin Xian watched the tiny black ant crawl across his palm. His mind felt empty. He extended his other hand, pressing it against the first, trying to guide the ant onto the new surface.

The ant immediately sensed confusion and dread. These four hills were outside its plan. Its hope collapsed. But after a brief hesitation, the ant crawled onto the new hills, preparing to climb again—unaware that Lin Xian alternated his hands, bringing them together again. To the ant, the hills that had sloped downward now rose upward, endlessly.

It didn't realize its world was receding, alternating. New hills kept appearing before it reached the edge. It tried changing direction—but strangely, the ground seemed to anticipate its goal, always presenting new hills just as it neared escape.

Lin Xian observed the ant on his hand, unaware a figure had appeared beside him. He turned, seeing the gray-white hair.

Lin Xian felt Ye Lan always saw him—not just physically. Like their first conversation, when he'd used Chen Sixuan's mental link, Ye Lan hadn't seen him, yet her gaze had still fully illuminated him, just as it did now.

"Professor Ye, the meeting room was too hot. I came out for air."

Ye Lan spoke calmly: "It's fine. I know you're under immense pressure. You're so young, yet you're expected to stand among Phoenix Society leadership and shoulder this. It's unfair to you."

Lin Xian smiled strangely: "What's fair or unfair? The end of the world doesn't care about age. The dark doesn't respect women or children. The most casualties are always among them."

"Respecting and protecting the vulnerable is a responsibility and civilizational mission humanity evolved to preserve reproduction. Did you know? Among nature's species, very few are born crying at maximum volume—it's disadvantageous for survival, like how we must stay silent in the dark. But our children cry because, genetically, humans evolved group-based self-protection. Blue Star has no natural predators for humans, so evolution shaped our genes this way."

"Like this ant." Lin Xian looked at the ant on his palm. He didn't want to toy with it—just found the interaction with life interesting, a way to ease his turmoil.

Ye Lan glanced at him, silent.

Lin Xian felt the silence grow awkward. The Sky-Patrol Vessel was holding a critical meeting. He didn't know if he should return—as if Ye Lan were his old teacher, forcing him back to class, making him uneasy.

"Professor Ye, I didn't see you earlier..."

"I just contacted the Emperor Operation team at Yongcheng Port. We're mobilizing Emperor-class mechs into Shuguang City." Ye Lan said calmly.

Lin Xian stared at her in surprise: "Has the meeting outcome been decided?"

"There's no need to debate. Everyone already knows." Ye Lan looked out over the vast Shuguang City. "Abandoning three million people is no different from abandoning thirty million."

"You think we must fight to the death?" Lin Xian was stunned—not by the decision, but by Ye Lan's unhesitating resolve as Phoenix Society's commander!

Ye Lan said: "Our war against the dark has always been fought under information and power asymmetry. Like this ant on your hand—you can control its behavior and life or death at will. But you don't, not because you intend to, but because you find it pointless. That's only possible because you know it's an ant, not something else."

"To the ant, the hills are mountains, the valleys are abysses—a world utterly beyond its control. But if you don't understand the creature, you won't feel that way. You won't know if it might bite you. Human logic says killing a creature doesn't depend on size."

Ye Lan looked at Lin Xian: "If this ant bit you, would you still toy with it?"

Lin Xian smiled: "I'd crush it immediately—or blow it away."

"Two extreme outcomes. But what if it were a two-centimeter poison dart frog?" Ye Lan countered.

"Then I'd think twice."

Hum!

A large transport vessel flew in from afar. Lin Xian recognized it—the Silent City's craft.

"Wang Yue Zhenji has arrived. Come, let's discuss how to strike back."

Ye Lan nodded to Lin Xian. They began walking back toward the conference room. The atmosphere inside had changed. Lin Xian wasn't sure—he thought he imagined it—but the hall seemed... lighter than before.

Wang Yue Zhenji still wore his plain robe, sleeves draped, his face a deadpan expression of "I fear nothing but inconvenience." He entered, sat across from Lin Xian, and gave him a faint smile.

A subtle look: I know you're feeling awful, but I think you're doing well.

Lin Xian returned a helpless look. He couldn't understand how this machine could be so unfazed by the end of the world. But then Ye Lan spoke—and his blood began to boil.

"Regarding our struggle against the dark, no psychological preparation is needed. From a power perspective, we're inferior to the dark organisms. But if this crisis is viewed as the dark's extended probe into humanity's capital, our only option is to strike back. From its founding, the Phoenix Society prepared to dedicate its life to securing human civilization's survival. If this is a game, we have no retreat, no choice. The next meeting's agenda is now changed: How to annihilate the four Class-S organisms!"

"Comrades, we must prepare thoroughly in the shortest time possible. Please speak."

Lu Tianye straightened his posture, speaking sharply: "I agree. Shuguang City has two walls, 2, 75 'Thunder Hammer' 120mm electromagnetic railguns, 3, 00 Longcheng-50 rail artillery mounts, 1, 30 integrated defense arrays, over 1, 00 Liuhuo heavy cannons, a six-layer ultra-high-temperature plasma beam and large pulse-string resonator network for outer district defense, and 420 heavy weapon outposts. Inside the city, sixteen air defense systems composed of Silent Hunters, anti-air cannons, storm missiles, and pulse laser sky arrays. My Garrison Command has 130, 00 troops, two mech divisions, and one special armed power battalion. Our firepower can handle grotesque waves. The main issue is Class-S. Even with sub-nuclear devices and heavy bombs, if we can't penetrate their defenses, we'll be stuck."

"Yes, Class-S organisms generally possess defensive fields or countermeasures against thermal weapons—likely an evolutionary response to our nuclear assaults." Luo Ming of the Seraphim Division added: "We have over a thousand psychics. We can handle special attacks, cover, and reconnaissance of Class-S defense systems. From our previous kill of the Gray Mist Messenger, we gained experience: even Class-S defensive fields aren't limitless."

"As long as Class-S are carbon-based, they're not immortal!" Hu Jiang said: "The core issue is battlefield intelligence. The battles at Xilan City's 【Cloud Needle】 and Shuguang City's 【Gray Mist】, and the injuries inflicted on two Class-S by Reykjavik's European Storm Alliance, prove that finding weaknesses matters more than direct firepower."

He turned to his officer: "Li Zheng, brief us on our brigade's combat structure. Tonight's focus is the fan-shaped sector of west and south city. Reallocate forces accordingly."

The young Taitiewei officer immediately activated a holographic display: "Our 83rd Taitiewei Brigade has 42, 00 personnel, all equipped with tactical power armor. Like the Garrison Command, we have a special armed power battalion of 1, 00, composed of Iron Hunters and Phantom Wolves. We also field a mech legion: 300 Iron Guard-3 assault mechs, 275 Guardian-X assault mechs, 120 Vulcan-series mechs, and 8 Interstellar Predators. We've fought No. 13 and No. 14 organisms and developed our own guerrilla tactics against Class-S."

He began explaining a tactic centered on the Interstellar Predator.

(Vulcan series)

(Iron Guard-3 military assault mech)

(Guardian-X assault mech)

"We have eight fully equipped Interstellar Predator mechs. Each is 60 meters tall, weighing 4, 65 tons total, powered by a nuclear fusion turbine, piloted by a single neural-link operator. Armor is ultra-carbyne alloy composite. Armed with high-frequency blade chainswords, plasma wrist cannons, 'Scorchwind' jet systems, and sixteen salvos of devastating missiles. These are our core combat units!"

"Perfect—we've been short on frontline assault units." Lu Tianye nodded, his expression brightening: "As long as the walls hold, we've got a fight."

"With Silent City joining, our firepower is sufficient." He looked at Wang Yue Zhenji.

Wang Yue Zhenji, facing all eyes, gave a slight nod: "All Silent City Two personnel have been evacuated. All combat units and firepower on Silent City One are fully operational. Whether for evacuation or combat, we're ready. But due to terrain, Silent City will remain airborne with the fleets, or higher, to counter the atmospheric organism." "Air-to-air? Excellent!"

At this moment, Xu Zhenyue of the North American United Front said: "Our United Front's fleet, combined with the Phoenix Society's Tianzhen Ship, totals 16, 00 personnel, primarily centered on the Psychic Action Force. I propose the Nightwalkers Organization and the Seraphim Unit coordinate with us in joint operations, while the United Front, Phoenix Society's Iron Guard Fleet, provide aerial fire support. But there's an issue we just discussed: so many S-Class sieges will generate massive Dark Infiltration pressure—we must ensure no large-scale mutations occur within the city."

"I have a suggestion."

Former Federal Senator Xu Yan now spoke: "The underground strategic facilities are completely sealed, but Shuguang City's underground transit network still exists, with sections deliberately blocked to prevent Weird Entities from entering. To prevent large-scale mutations inside the city, I propose evacuating the elderly, weak, women, and children who lack combat capability in batches to the underground, then assigning selected gene-evolved individuals or personnel unsuitable for outdoor combat from both psychic teams to protect them in designated zones—this reduces casualties and contains any mutations to small areas."

"This suggestion is excellent," Ye Lan said now. "General Xu, Commander Qi, Minister Luo—please coordinate personnel for Xu Yan and Su Jin to manage the phased concealment and protection of civilians, minimizing mutation risks as much as possible."

"Agreed, but I have another question."

General Xu turned to Huo Jiang and Lu Dao: "Generals, beyond the city, our frontline troops face psychological pressure and Dark Infiltration—that's our first major challenge."

Although long-serving soldiers possess far superior psychological resilience and mental evolution compared to ordinary survivors, that doesn't mean mutations won't occur within the military—the initial collapse of the Interstellar Army's combat effectiveness on Revelation Day was caused by internal mutations.

"True," Huo Jiang said gravely now. "We have overwhelming firepower—even with over 200, 00 warriors, what we need is combat will."

Lu Tianye's gaze grew dark as well: "We must clearly communicate the situation and our objective to every soldier. I trust my men, but this is still immense pressure."

Possessing combat will and the courage to die doesn't mean one won't attack comrades after mutating—when danger arises from within, it's often the most terrifying.

For a moment, the meeting fell silent.

"Uh… can I make a suggestion?"

At this moment, Lin Xian, seated in the corner of the crowd, suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. Dozens of eyes instantly turned to him. Wang Yue Zhenji, calm as ever, now widened his eyes slightly, smiling with keen interest—he'd been fascinated by Lin Xian's suggestions since the Star Abyss mission, as if Lin Xian alone operated outside all his calculations.

Ye Lan, seated at the head, smiled at Lin Xian: "Captain Lin, you're a vital leader in this campaign. Speak freely—no need to hold back."

"I'm not holding back—I just find the generals' battlefield aura terrifying. I didn't dare speak up."

Lu Tianye looked at him: "Captain Lin, you pulled off a major feat at the Giant God Peak Launch Site and saved the whole city. I don't think you're a coward. Say what you have to say—no one here will disrespect your words."

At this, Huo Jiang, Xu Zhenyue, Qi Nuo, Xu Yan, Su Jin, and others all nodded slightly, casting approving glances toward Lin Xian.

Though he was the youngest-looking person here, no one regarded him with suspicion.

Lin Xian took a deep breath and voiced the idea he'd been pondering atop the Twin Star Tower.

"Our current efficiency in using Dark Corrosion Cells to resist Dark Infiltration has reached 18%. If we can obtain the Dark Corrosion Cell's energy absorption data from the Civilization Vanguard, we could convert Dark Infiltration potential energy into resistance, achieving 100% defense—wouldn't that eliminate this problem?"

"But the Civilization Vanguard is beyond the Celestial Curtain," Xu Zhenyue said calmly. "Can you retrieve this data through your psychic link with Chu Yan?"

Lin Xian shook his head: "If I could, I would've brought it back already."

"Then why suggest this?" asked Huo Jiang, commander of the Iron Guard Fleet, puzzled.

Lin Xian cleared his throat, his tone slightly unnatural.

"Though I can't retrieve the data through my psychic link with Chu Yan, I can… physically enter the Civilization Vanguard myself!"

At this, the conference room fell silent. Wang Yue Zhenji's eyes narrowed slightly.

Ye Lan looked at Lin Xian with a thoughtful gaze: "You mean that destroyed Civilization Vanguard?"

Lin Xian nodded: "During the Crescent Moon Operation, I boarded the Civilization Vanguard. I believed the Dark Corrosion Cell experimental device aboard was the Curtain-Breaking Device, guessing the Crimson World's people would activate and connect it only before launch. So I kept a precaution—left something on that device."

Lin Xian didn't drag it out—he looked directly at everyone.

"It's a Forbidden Item: the Flash Bullet. I sealed it in a lead box and hid it aboard the Civilization Vanguard. This Forbidden Item allows me to perform direct spatial translocation—meaning right now, if I think it, I can instantly teleport into the Civilization Vanguard's scientific lab module."

Lin Xian never imagined this cautious move would prove useful here. After scanning the entire city, he'd nearly forgotten about it, his mind entirely focused on searching for the Curtain-Breaking Device with Chu Yan.

Only after returning from his consciousness link with Chu Yan did he remember—though initially, his goal was to rescue her.

"What?!"

Hearing this, Qi Nuo shot up from his chair: "When did you do this?!"

Not just him—everyone else looked stunned. Wang Yue Zhenji, seated across, suddenly smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Minister Luo Ming of the Seraphim Unit frowned at Lin Xian: "I'm familiar with this Forbidden Item's records—but are you certain you can perform such a long-distance transfer?"

"I'm certain," Lin Xian nodded, for his third eye constantly sensed the bullet's presence.

"Good," Luo Ming lowered his hand. "Second question: even if you get aboard, how do you plan to return?"

"The Celestial Curtain blocks all signals," said Su Jin, former lead of the Far Star Project. "We've tested it—even the final high-power electromagnetic signal from the Natural Selection sent back relied on solar gain reflection, and preliminary analysis suggests it was partially enabled by the Celestial Curtain's initial breach. Even if you're on a fully intact Civilization Vanguard, you won't be able to transmit data back."

"He doesn't intend to transmit data."

At this moment, a calm, rational voice spoke. Ye Lan, at the head, gazed deeply at Lin Xian and said softly: "You intend to reunite with Chu Yan and fly the Gray Mist Messenger back into the atmosphere, correct?"

Lin Xian fell silent. He felt Ye Lan had seen through all his thoughts—but he wasn't surprised. He said plainly:

"Worth a try, right?"

Lin Xian's gaze sharpened, growing more confident: "If we retrieve this data, we can use the Silent City's same-potential amplification tech, combined with the restored Shuguang City's City Ring as a same-potential tower, to release this dark energy conversion. With sufficient energy, we can fully cover Shuguang City, shielding it from all Dark Infiltration. And we can also bring back a 385-meter, 160, 00-ton resurrected Bio-Brain, equipped with starship armor—a Zhizhuangguaishou. Combined with the Iron Guard's mecha units, the Garrison's defensive weapons, and the Emperor Project's two Emperor-Class mechs—we might even be able to…"

"Take on the Corpse Driver?"

Silence.

The conference hall was eerily quiet.

All the world's top leaders stared in shock at the young man in the corner—unable to believe he'd proposed such an astonishing plan!

Teleporting the Civilization Vanguard, retrieving the Dark Corrosion Cell's energy absorption data, then using the Gray Mist Messenger to re-enter the atmosphere—this wouldn't just rescue Chu Yan, but also recover the last seed of human survival preserved by Chu Jing!

Clap. Clap. Clap~

A round of applause suddenly echoed. Lin Xian frowned—he didn't need to guess who it was.

Wang Yue Zhenji.

The man's expression was radiant.

Ye Lan looked at Lin Xian, speaking solemnly: "Captain Lin, this is an extremely critical proposal. If it resolves the Dark Mutation issue, our chances of victory will rise dramatically."

Everyone's faces showed astonishment. Lin Xian's plan was like a ray of dawn—dispelling half the gloom in the room.

"If so, we can go all out—fight to the death!" Lu Tianye said, gazing at Lin Xian with clear admiration. "Absolutely!"

"Exactly! If we solve the problems of supplies, water, and mutations—even if we all die here, other human regions will get breathing room to survive the night!" Xu Zhenyue declared loudly.

"Great news! This kid's amazing!" Huo's brigade and other high-ranking officers chimed in.

At this moment, Lin Xian slowly stood up, looking at Ye Lan—as if he had more to say.

Everyone watched him rise, falling silent again.

"Professor Ye."

Lin Xian's gaze was icy, his tone grave: "I have another proposal."

"Speak."

"I believe even this isn't enough to defeat Star Abyss's probe."

Ye Lan waited for him to continue, but his gaze told her he knew she already understood.

"Yes."

Ye Lan drew a deep breath, gazing into the void, speaking seriously: "This is the Dark's probe into humanity. To defeat it, we need more than firepower, strong defenses, and protecting the weak. If doubt is a signal, then fear is a signal too."

She rose slowly: "Activate the Phoenix Society's global radio. We must call all humans in Asia-Pacific and those who've left Shuguang City to overcome fear and fight with their backs to the wall!"

"If we fail, tomorrow's dawn may never come. But if we succeed, we may reclaim time—and the initiative to survive—for Shuguang City and other dawnlands!"

At these words, a profound sense of mission surged through every heart. The Shuguang City Defense Plan began swiftly. The entire city mobilized. Over 200, 00 troops from the Garrison, Iron Guard, and North American United Front began constructing a steel wall. Military convoys streamed endlessly along the roads.

Roaring, rows of interstellar mecha units marched with metallic steps, hydraulic systems clashing. Above, the Silent City hung suspended. The Tianzhen Ship, the United Front's fleet, the Iron Guard's fleet, and over 100, 00 Shuguang City Garrison drones thundered across the sky.

On the ground, anti-aircraft batteries were rapidly deployed.

Thousands of vehicle convoys surged toward the north from Qingbo and the east of Pingcheng—tens of thousands of vehicles formed a steel flood. Smaller convoys merged into temporary alliances.

The Dawn Watchers Alliance, with over 100, 00 people, raced northward with a rail convoy. Their convoy commander, Lin Qingyu, sat in the command vehicle, directing surrounding squads.

Lei Zhen's alliance expanded overnight from 80, 00 to nearly 130, 00—mostly refugees he'd taken along using his convoy's resources. More convoys kept joining. Lei Zhen grumbled constantly about the freeloaders, yet never turned them away—instead, he ordered his men to coordinate communication frequencies and offer assistance.

The Wind Whisperers convoy was light and mobile. Luo Heng, a reconnaissance veteran, moved with exceptional speed and efficiency—but carried the least supplies and survivors. He constantly exchanged situation updates with other convoys.

Han Tiege of the Metal Madness convoy sat in a military armored truck. His convoy was essentially a mobile weapons depot—fuel and weapon vehicles made up most of it. Along the way, other convoys kept approaching to buy weapons and ammo. The short, thrifty man, usually meticulous with resources, now sold everything at rock-bottom prices—last night's battle had drained many convoys dry. With the Federation dissolved and resources shattered, he decided: if he could help, he would.

Hssss.

At this moment, the convoy radios crackled with static. A calm, aged female voice spoke, steady yet commanding.

"This is the Phoenix Society's Supreme Command. I am Ye Lan."

"Tonight, Star Abyss will launch an unprecedented assault on our final capital—Shuguang City. This is no ordinary attack—it's a probe, a test by the Dark Civilization against human civilization. If we retreat, if we fail… tomorrow, the sun may never rise again."

"Star Abyss seeks to observe humanity—to find our weaknesses, our survival coordinates. When we retreat, they expand. When we flee in fear, darkness mutates humanity. Here, I tell the world: this battle for Shuguang City may be humanity's final one. If we lose, Star Abyss will expand without limit. We will have no more 1 year and 96 days. No more 10 months. Not even another dawn."

"Shuguang City shelters 3 million homeless, vehicleless weaklings—elderly, women, wounded, children. They are our kin. The Phoenix Society will abandon no one. A 200, 00-strong defense line of Garrison, Iron Guard, North American United Front, Nightwalkers, and Seraphim will hold until the last person in Shuguang City. Now, in the name of Phoenix Society's commander, I call all humans near Shuguang City or fleeing from it: converge on Shuguang City!"

"Comrades—the human counterattack begins tonight, from Shuguang City!"

Hssss.

The static faded slowly. Countless convoys churned up dust storms. The radio's voice vanished as if unheard.

Shuguang City. Tianzhen Ship.

Ye Lan set down the global broadcast handset and turned to Huo Jiang: "General Huo, notify the Emperor Project team. Emperor-02 'Zhuque' and Emperor-03 'Xuanwu' are to immediately disengage their onboard standby systems. Launch the Yongcheng Port strategic transport vessel. Deliver the Emperor Mechs into Shuguang City before nightfall!"

Far away, at the Yongcheng Port Xinghua Heavy Industry strategic factory base, piercing alarms blared across the sky.

Wooo~ Wooo~

Sixteen-eight platform transporters, operated by dozens of engineers, slowly rolled into the base. Inside two massive loading wells, two "Celestial Gods" slowly activated.

【ALERT, ALERT: Zhuque's Fengfeng ignition sequence initiating. All upper-loading personnel evacuate immediately.】

In Loading Well #1, a 02-class super-large human weapon, glowing with golden energy streams, taller than Unit-01 by dozens of meters, slowly detached its rear tether cables.

【Qin Brothers, please take your positions. Prepare for neural sync activation. Combat unit deployed. All non-essential personnel evacuate immediately.】

In Loading Well #2, two young men in mecha undersuits, tall and aligned in posture, marched resolutely toward the towering deep-blue mech. Twin nuclear turbine engines rotated slowly.

"Heard there are four S-Class. Scared, big brother?" younger Qin Chuan teased.

"Remember," older Qin Yue stepped forward, face grim. "China's mechs—stand as the Great Wall. Fall, and still the Great Wall!"

(End of Chapter)