Chapter 1648: Doubt and Probing

Emperor

"We won't run… should we retreat farther!?"

On the endless plain, the whole world looked like a yellow cake violently pressed flat.

Among a massive force of over a hundred Fifth Stage troops, a War Star Level Fifth Stage anxiously asked their Emperor.

Looking at the faintly visible distant peaks and fortress, such a distance…

It's really too close!

For them, a Fragment Star Level deterrent cannot be compensated by this one‑thousand‑plus kilometer distance.

"No need."

Standing with arms crossed.

As the strongest of the Mind Tribe—one of the few beings in the Star Battlefield whose appearance closely resembles humans—he merely stared coldly at the mountain, at the faintly shimmering light curtain.

He said calmly, locking onto that entity.

Turning his head, he seemed to be pondering something as he looked at his subordinates.

"Fragment Star Level…"

"Really… could it be possible?"

Equally puzzled.

From the initial shock to fleeing, and now to a regained composure.

As a Fifth Stage intermediate "Fiery Heart" practitioner Hong Zhou, his doubts grew deeper.

In just over an hour, that entity could emerge to hunt them.

According to normal logic, what he should do is run as far as possible, or simply hunt other Fifth Stage units to earn some points first.

Facing a Fragment Star Level, he would certainly die.

But…

"The logic doesn't hold…"

"That entity's mission makes no sense no matter how you think about it."

His gaze was profound.

Hong Zhou repeatedly glanced at the mission brief, his mind racing.

In these brief ten‑some minutes, he had already deduced thousands of possibilities and logical chains.

But without exception, none of the logics were self‑consistent.

Unlike the way the Insect‑Jaw Tribe and others think, as one adept at psychic power, his reasoning was completely opposite.

He began reverse‑engineering from Lin An's perspective!

"Suppose I am that Fragment Star Level, could I disguise myself?"

"If disguised, what would be my purpose?"

"To feign weakness? To better slaughter others?"

"Does it matter if the disguise fails? Then what would I do next?"

At the first logical layer, Hong Zhou could not reach a conclusion; he could only conjecture that Lin An would next 'enslave' other Fifth Stage units to help him complete the task faster.

Although mortal enemies, theoretically no Fifth Stage dares appear before a Fragment Star Level.

But precisely because a Fragment Star Level is so terrifying, among these Fifth Stage there must be traitors.

If Lin An makes a slight promise, many Fifth Stage would be willing to sell their lives.

After all, being hunted by a Fragment Star Level or fighting peers—any fool knows which is harder.

Of course, the premise is that entity truly is a Fragment Star Level…

"That entity's mission difficulty is too low…"

"It seems to require killing half of us, which isn't simple."

"But once that entity slays a few Star‑Destroying Level ones, the mission becomes exceedingly easy!"

Simple logic.

The Fragment Star Level mission is just to eliminate half the people; it doesn't require you to do the killing yourself!

Now there are roughly three thousand plus Fourth and Fifth Stage combined! Even if natural deaths leave only fifteen hundred, the mission is fulfilled!

His eyes flickered, fully aware that every word of the system is crucial.

Hong Zhou's expression shifted repeatedly, feeling this mission was truly bizarre!

"Taking a step back, even if that entity's mission demands personally killing half the people, the difficulty lies in having to wipe us out before we slaughter each other."

"From this inference, we could threaten that entity by committing 'suicide'…"

"That does count as Fragment Star Level difficulty, but it's… too great!"

In two hours, if these intermediate Fifth Stage were ruthless and colluded, they could completely wipe out their own before Lin An does!

In that case, wouldn't that Fragment Star Level be doomed!?

Thus after much thought, Hong Zhou was the first to discard this possibility.

"Fragment Star Level…"

"Fragment Star Level..."

"Combat power level… solo camp…"

His brain cells felt as if they were burning.

As the ruler of trillions of beings, standing at the pinnacle of the Spirit Alliance, Hong Zhou suddenly felt unprecedented pressure.

It's not just the enemy's terror; more so, he couldn't fathom this mission at all!

The Star Battlefield shouldn't be this complicated!

"Unless..."

He exhaled a clear breath.

After repeatedly thinking to no avail, Hong Zhou suddenly had an idea flash in his mind.

If there is a truth behind such strangeness, no matter how absurd the truth may be, it could still be true!

Give it a try!

His resolve was firm.

Hong Zhou gave the order without hesitation.

Go!

Telepathy team, go to the fortress now!

All of you attack together, directly strike that Star-Shattering Level!

After the order was given, all members of the Heart Alliance, who had been anxious and unsure what Hong Zhou was thinking, froze on the spot.

Not fleeing would be fine!

Their Emperor even ordered them to attack that super-powerful being!?

Telepathy team!?

That isn't Fourth Stage Peak!?

What's the difference between this order and sending them to their deaths!?

Emperor!? Impossible!

He instinctively spoke out to dissuade.

It's not that they're afraid of dying. It's that the distance is too close, the Star-Shattering Level is too terrifying! If they now provoke the other side, what if they earn a grudge?

Although this time they at least have to lose half their people, if they all die while the few Star-Destroying Levels survive, that's still losing half! In their minds, the greatest danger this time isn't that Star-Shattering Level, but the others!

If everyone else dies, they'll be safe!

Angering that Star-Shattering Level is really stupid!

Facing the frightened dissuasion of his fifth-stage subordinates, Hong Zhou coldly swept it aside, having no intention of being persuaded.

As the supreme ruler of civilization, he needs to explain nothing!

Too lazy to say more to his subordinates, Hong Zhou's aura suddenly erupted like a torch, quickly spreading his mental power.

Provoke that one!?

No difference!

If he doesn't verify his hypothesis, all his actions will go wrong!

He not only wants his cannon fodder subordinates to test things out, but also wants to contact other Star-Destroying Levels to join forces!

Star-Shattering Level?

A cold laugh.

Hong Zhou stared fixedly at the fortress.

He really wants to see just how terrifying that Star-Shattering Level is!

If...

If his guess is true, then perhaps this mission will be his greatest gain in the Apocalypse!

For this, he doesn't mind taking risks!

We turn back!?

You want me to take these fourth-stage and attack that one!?

In the turbulent wake following the Chimera, the stone giant trembled all over, incredulously looking at the elf delivering the order.

In his eyes, this elf, who was once kind and friendly, now seemed like a long-eared demon, sinister and cunning!

Why me!?

You said you'd protect me! Aren't we allies!?

The huge stone trembled; although the Super Child Elf is much smaller than him, at this moment the massive stone giant is like an angry chick trembling, desperately protecting its kin.

Having been deceived by the elf tribe, he fled together with that Star-Destroying Level Chimera.

Of course, after Lin An's identity came out, he had no choice but to flee with the other party.

It's fine, your rules can merge with the earth.

Besides, it's not you who needs to go, just your clansmen.

A bunch of fourth-stage cannon fodder, dead is dead.

He still wore a gentle smile, but the long-eared elf's eyes were full of coldness as he spoke.

That's right.

After almost all fifth-stage individuals fled to the safety zone, they realized something was wrong.

Therefore, as a Star-Destroying Level Chimera, he also intended to test things out.

Or rather, as a token of allegiance.