Chapter 345: with translation of chapter title

Polar night.

Meaning: Polar night. (Extreme night). So translation: "Polar night."

The bitter wind cuts to the bone.

Translation: "The bitter wind pierced to the bone."

Along the eastern edge of the massive gate lies a cluster of metal facilities built by the Administrators, as well as a vast metal plaza.

Translation: "On the eastern edge of the massive gate lay a cluster of metal facilities built by the administrators, as well as a vast metal plaza."

Looking at its structure and layout, it appears to be a relay station for a 'small' lift, facilitating the transport of personnel and ground units to the core.

Translation: "Judging by its structure and layout, it appeared to be a relay station for a 'mini' elevator, facilitating the transport of personnel and ground units to the planet's core."

However, this place has been taken over by green‑skinned orcs with twice‑the‑normal skin, who have linked the formerly open plaza and facilities into one, turning it into a ramshackle yet remarkably sturdy fortress far larger than before.

Translation: "However, this place had already been occupied by green-skinned orcs with skin a vibrant green, who turned the originally open plaza and facility cluster into a single entity, forging a ramshackle yet remarkably sturdy fortress far larger than before."

At this moment…

Translation: "At this moment…"

"Ah‑choo!!"

Translation: "\"Ah—choo!! \""

The landing pad before the fortress's main gate suddenly erupts with a deafening sneeze that echoes through the conifer forest, even shaking the icy frost crystals formed from water mist on the leaves.

Translation: "The landing pad before the fortress's main gate suddenly erupted with a deafening sneeze that echoed through the coniferous forest, even shaking the frost crystals formed from condensed water mist on the leaves."

An orc chieftain who had just stepped out of the transport's cabin, hit by a sudden chill and an itchy nose, couldn't hold back a tremendous sneeze.

Translation: "An orc chieftain who had just stepped out of the transport aircraft's cabin, struck by a sudden chill and an itchy nose, couldn't help but unleash a earth‑shattering sneeze."

Even though it is a Shield World constructed by the Administrators, the high‑latitude, sun‑starved Arctic surface cannot escape the bitter cold.

Translation: "Even though it was a shield world constructed by the administrators, at high latitudes where the sun's rays never directly strike the polar surface, it could not escape the bitter cold."

In fact, with Administrator technology the Shield World's surface could be kept in perpetual spring or summer, but the orcs have no authority to alter or interfere with it.

Translation: "In fact, with the administrators' technology, the shield world's surface could easily be kept in eternal spring or summer, but the orcs had no authority to alter or interfere with it."

The sneezing orc chieftain, together with his two comrades, has already left the transport and is heading toward the fortress.

Translation: "The orc chieftain who had just sneezed, together with his two companions, had already left the transport and was walking toward the fortress."

These three are Saldo, Mand, and Phini, left to guard the Shield World in obedience to the command of the great beast Ulan.

Translation: "The three of them, obeying the command of the Ulan Giant Beast, were the garrison left behind in the shield world: Saldo, Manny, and Feini."

Of course, their names matter little to them; what matters is protecting their bodies with ramshackle powered armor that grants strength and heightened reactions, equipped on the left arm with a heavy‑caliber machine gun, artillery, and a flamethrower, while their right hands grip a massive hammer, claws, and a 'rusted' cleaver.

Translation: "Of course, their names mattered little to them; what was important was protecting their bodies with scrap power armor that granted strength and heightened reflexes, plus the large‑caliber machine gun, cannon, and flamethrower mounted on the armor's left arm, and the giant hammer, claws, and 'rusty' machete gripped tightly in their right hands."

In this guise, each of the three orc chieftains stands nearly eight meters tall—over a head taller than the one that led the invasion of Ottino.

Translation: "Now, this appearance made the three orc chieftains' physiques approach eight meters, towering over the one responsible for invading Ottino by more than a head."

Accompanying the three chieftains to the fortress are nearly ten thousand hulking, ill‑tempered youths, also clad in ramshackle powered armor.

Translation: "Accompanying the three chieftains to the fortress were nearly ten thousand hulking, hot‑tempered lads, also clad in scrap power armor."

Among the many traits of the green‑skinned orcs, one is that the tougher and more victorious a fighter becomes, the larger his head grows.

Translation: "Among the many racial traits of the green‑skinned orcs, one is that the stronger a fighter is and the more victories he scores, the larger his build becomes."

Clearly, these hot‑headed youths whose heads have swollen to three and a half meters are the toughest fighters under the three chieftains.

Translation: "Clearly, these hot‑tempered lads whose builds reached three and a half meters were the toughest fighters under the three chieftains."

"Hah‑hah!" Saldo, whose nose still itches, sniffs back the impending mucus, sets his hammer on the ground, frees his right hand to rub it, and bellows in displeasure:

Translation: "\"Hah‑hah! \" Saldo, whose nose still itched, snorted hard to suck back the impending mucus, then set his giant hammer on the ground, freed his right hand to rub it vigorously, and bellowed in displeasure:"

"This place is freezing—can't even muster a Waaagh! Damn it, I feel like killing a few scrawny runts just for a taste."

Translation: "\"This place is damn cold; even a Waaagh can't get going, what a drag—I really feel like killing a few puny runts just to taste them. \""

"Quit the griping, my ears are killing me," Mand snarked, his right arm fitted with claws.

Translation: "\"Quit the grumbling, it's making my ears ache, \" Manny, whose right arm bore claws, snapped."

"Ah‑de, my ears hurt," Phini agreed after licking his rusted blade, then spat and added, "This stuff's both intoxicating and fiery."

Translation: "\"Ah‑de, my ears hurt, \" Feini agreed after licking the rust‑blade, then spat and commented, \"This stuff is both addictive and sharp‑tongued. \""

"I hope big brother Ulan leaves us some scrawny runts for a snack," Saldo said, shaking his head, re‑gripping his hammer's haft, and continued toward the fortress with his two comrades.

Translation: "\"I hope Big Brother Ulan leaves us some skinny runts for a snack, \" Saldo shook his head, re‑gripped his hammer's haft, and continued toward the fortress with his two companions."

The double‑doors swung open, and the three chieftains led the ten thousand furious youths into the fortress.

Translation: "The double‑doors swung open, and the three chieftains led the ten thousand hot‑tempered lads into the fortress interior."

Yet none of them seemed to notice that among their ranks lurked an unseen "phantasm"—undetectable by sight or even psychic sense.

Translation: "Yet none of them seemed to notice that among their ranks had slipped an unseen 'phantom'—one that could not be observed, nor even sensed by Spiritual Energy."

The doors sealed shut.

Translation: "The doors sealed shut."

This phantom wandered about like a tourist, scouting the fortress from top to bottom, and whenever it spotted a convenient hiding spot it would on impulse plant a grenade.

Translation: "This 'phantom' wandered about as if sightseeing, touring the fortress from end to end; and whenever he spotted a concealment spot that pleased his eye, he would on a whim plant a 'grenade' there."

After the phantom finished its tour and arrived at the fortress's central hall, it reunited with the three chieftains who were about to drink and eat beans, then it slowly approached Saldo—whose nose had stopped itching but now felt stuffed—from behind…

Translation: "After the phantom finished his tour, he arrived at the fortress's central hall, where he again met the three chieftains who were about to drink alcohol and eat… whatever, then he slowly walked up behind Saldo, whose nose had stopped itching but now felt blocked, and……"

"Pshhh—!!"

Translation: "\"Pfft—\""

A pair of flickering, dusky‑blood‑colored three‑bladed claws pierced straight through Saldo's powered armor.

Translation: "A pair of flickering, eerie blood‑colored three‑bladed claws actually pierced through Saldo's powered armor."

Then came two "shrii—!!" sounds; before Saldo could feel pain, or even register surprise or confusion, the blood‑red claws slashed left then right in a crossing motion, cleanly carving the chieftain into several pieces.

Translation: "Then came two 'sizzle—' sounds; before Saldo could feel pain, let alone register surprise or confusion, the blood‑clawed pair sliced left then right in a cross‑cut, cleanly cleaving the chieftain into several chunks."

"Pfft!"

Translation: "\"Sizzle! \""

Flesh, blood clots, and organs sprayed out instantly; even the relatively intact upper half collapsed to the ground, but soon the blood defied gravity, drifting upward uncontrollably and being sucked into the crimson claws.

Translation: "Flesh, blood clots, and viscera sprayed out instantly; even the relatively intact upper half collapsed to the ground, but soon the blood \"defied gravity, \" drifting upward uncontrollably before being sucked into the blood‑colored claws."

The blood droplets coalesced into arcing streams, and in less than a blink the claws had drained Saldo dry, leaving only a desiccated corpse.

Translation: "The blood droplets converged into arcing streams; in less than a blink, the claws had drained Saldo dry, leaving only a desiccated corpse."

At the same moment, the wielder of the claws dropped the psychic‑enhanced invisibility, revealing his true visage to the two stunned orc chieftains…

Translation: "At the same instant, the wielder of the claws dispelled the Spiritual Energy‑boosted invisibility effect, revealing his true visage to the two astonished orc chieftains…"

He was the sixth son of Sui Bian, Koraaks.

Translation: "It was Sui Bian's sixth son, Kelakesi."

As for the ability to drain an enemy's blood, the claw that emits a bloody red glow is Koraaks's personal weapon bestowed by Sui Bian—the Bloody Claw.

Translation: "As for the claws that could suck an enemy's blood dry and whose blades emitted a crimson glow, they were Kelakesi's exclusive weapon bestowed by Sui Bian—the Blood Crimson Claw."

？！

Translation: "?!"

"All you do is ambush scrawny runts! Die, you bastard!!"

Translation: "\"All you know is to ambush puny runts—die!! \""

The first to react was the human "Sneak Attack Succeeded"—Mand, who had just killed his own comrade, likewise brandished his claws and lunged at Koraaks.

Translation: "Manny, the first to realize that a human had succeeded in a sneak attack and killed his comrade, likewise brandished his claws and lunged fiercely at Kelakesi."

"Grr? Grr!!"

Translation: "\"Ow? Ow!! \""

Phini, still catching his breath, didn't understand how Koraaks had appeared, but he followed Mand's charge anyway—why bother with details? He raised his rusted cleaver, ready to cleave Koraaks in two.

Translation: "Feini, still struggling to regain his strength, didn't understand how Kelakesi had appeared before him, but seeing Manny charge, he followed suit—no need to overthink—and raised his rusty machete, ready to cleave Kelakesi in two."

Suddenly!

Translation: "Suddenly!"

"Boom————Rumble————!"

Translation: "\"Boom—\""

The blast's shockwave and blue flames engulfed Mand, Phini, and Koraaks.

Translation: "The shockwave and blue flames from the explosion engulfed Manny, Feini, and Kelakesi."

Leaving the hall and the fortress, looking down from the sky, one sees the massive yet ramshackle stronghold's interior ravaged by a series of violent explosions; ultra‑hot plasma flames almost instantly consume the fortress.

Translation: "Leaving the hall and fortress, and viewing the scene from the sky, one saw that inside the massive, ramshackle yet sturdy fortress, a series of violent explosions erupted, the ultra‑hot plasma flames almost instantly reducing the stronghold to ruin."

The architect of this devastation was Koraaks, who had slipped into the fortress to "sightsee" and, as an afterthought, planted miniature plasma charges.

Translation: "The architect of this devastation was Kelakesi, who, while sneaking into the fortress to 'sightsee,' had also planted micro‑plasma bombs on the side."

Though the yield was modest—only about 50 tons of TNT—twelve of them detonated simultaneously at critical points, enough to blow the fortress apart and inflict maximal casualties on the orcs and their berserk youths inside.

Translation: "Though the yield wasn't large—'only' fifty tons of TNT—twelve of them detonated simultaneously at critical points, enough to blow the fortress apart and inflict maximal casualties on the orcs and hot‑tempered lads inside."

At that moment, the three hundred shadows lying in wait in the conifer forest dropped their optical camouflage, yet, bolstered by the Terminator, they projected a psychic shield and advanced toward the rolling blue‑flame shockwave, marching straight for the fortress.

Translation: "Meanwhile, the three hundred shadows who had been lying in wait in the coniferous forest also deactivated their optical camouflage, yet, bolstered by the Terminators, they deployed Spiritual Energy barriers to meet the rolling wave of blue‑flamed shock, advancing deliberately toward the fortress."

The shockwave gradually faded, leaving a haze of lingering dust and debris…

Translation: "The shockwave gradually faded, leaving in the lingering haze of dust and debris…"

"Chatter!"

Translation: "\"Rat‑tat! \""

"Crackle!"

Translation: "\"Crack—\""

Dense volleys of bolt‑gun fire and psychic lightning began to flash, along with the afterimages left by powered claws swinging and smashing.

Translation: "Began flashing with the dense barrage of bolt‑gun fire and Spiritual Energy lightning, plus the afterimages left by powered claws swinging and smashing."

「Waa…」

Translation: "\"Waa…\""

"Pfft!"

Translation: "\"Pfft! \""

"Shrii…!"

Translation: "\"Sizzle…\""

Meanwhile, the orcs and berserk youths who had survived the blasts didn't even get a chance to bellow a Waaagh before the shadows finished them off with suppressing fire.

Translation: "In contrast, the orcs and hot‑tempered lads who had survived the blast didn't even get to let out a 'Waaagh' before the shadows finished them off with follow‑up shots."

When the after‑effects and the haze had fully dissipated, the original fortress was gone—nothing but rubble, scorching‑hot "crystals," and orcs whose bodies weren't even left intact.

Translation: "When the after‑effects and the haze had fully dissipated, one could see that the original fortress had vanished utterly, leaving only rubble, scorched‑hot 'crystals,' and not even a whole corpse of an orc."

This side of the fortress's central hall…

Translation: "As for this side of the fortress's central hall…"

Saldo's corpse was also nowhere to be seen, possibly turned to ash or possibly blown away by the blast; as for Mande and Fini… well, although they were still there, they too had become two desiccated corpses, and it looked like their blood had likewise been sucked dry by the Blood-colored Claw.

Kelakesi was unharmed; he let the blood claws retract, freeing his hands, and walked to the exposed elevator entrance.

The shadows followed behind him.

Kelakesi, relying solely on physical means, could simply 'hand‑fish' the OriginalBody of the blood demon's heart; taking on three of those big bosses was more than enough, and besides, he had made all preparations before acting, seizing the initiative, so there was no way he could lose.

During the advance, a 'geological movement' also occurred nearby; immediately afterward, metal cylinders resembling light prisms rose all around, their tops emitting a cyan‑blue charging light, and they scanned Kelakesi and the shadows, just like the explosion of the earlier micro‑plasma bolt, triggering the shield world's defense mechanism.

But the metal columns, having finished scanning, immediately stopped charging and sank back beneath the surface.

This indicated that their human identity was like a green pass; knowing this, Kelakesi and the shadows never stopped their steps, heading straight to the entrance.

Kelakesi walked to the spherical terminal on the right, extended his left hand to complete identity verification, opened the entrance gate, then led the shadows onto the elevator and proceeded to the inner world.

Upon reaching the surface, Kelakesi had not tried to avoid those three big bosses by teleporting straight to the core, but the shield world's surface possessed an isolation barrier designed to block all transmission technology.

Moreover, the Administrators' civilization's barrier could not only block transmission, but also isolate the 'portals' of extradimensional evil gods and demons, and even shield against the Administrators' ultimate weapon, the cross‑phase pulse wave generated by the Halo (Superweapon).

Soon, Kelakesi and the shadows noticed that the elevator had undergone a 'top‑bottom inversion'.

When the elevator stopped and the gate opened, OriginalBody and his entourage saw the inner world's oasis, sea, and an artificial star with a diameter of a hundred kilometers, as well as a pyramid located directly beneath the star.

Seeing that.

Kelakesi and his companions did not linger; they activated the transmission device inside the inner world, instantly completed the transfer, and hurried straight to the control room at the pyramid's summit.

Initially, Leon and Magnus were impeded by the Flood's overflow, causing delays in their advance, but the core of this shield world remained pure land, so Kelakesi had no need to worry about the greenskin problem; in just a moment he reached the control room housing the Administrators' memory storage.

Kelakesi approached the storage's sensing range, causing it to produce a holographic point with tangible touch and temperature, which then condensed into a male Administrator about 2.6 meters tall.

He scanned the shadows surrounding them, then fixed his gaze on Kelakesi, who was much taller than him, and spoke in a cold tone using human language:

"Scan completed; identity verified as 301 Reclaimers (humans); I am the memory storage of Shield World 003 Administrator Mo Ke Bei Ji Hong Tu; please issue clear orders."

Upon hearing that,

Kelakesi asked bluntly: "Can you eliminate all greenskin orcs on the surface, including their spores deep in the soil, and can you destroy the greenskin orc fleet within the shield world's domain?"

Kelakesi did not ask about the relationship between the Administrator and the greenskin orcs, since that was left for his father and elder brother to consider; he only needed to consider whether he could resolve the greenskin issue.

"Scanning…" After receiving the clear instruction, the storage fell silent for a moment, then replied: "Locking completed; please confirm execution."

"'Execute.' Kelakesi immediately said."

"'Yes.'"

Upon receiving confirmation again, the storage immediately proceeded to carry out the 'annihilation' program as Kelakesi had instructed.

Outside the inner world, or rather outside the shield world's atmosphere.

The expeditionary force that had undergone pincer attacks before and after continued to engage the greenskin orc fleet, both sides suffering losses, but the orcs had already lost nearly six‑tenths of their battle moons, leaving only a single battle planet.

On that sole remaining battle planet sat the Urulan behemoth and the orc warlords, whose erupting 'Waaagh' stance could match the expeditionary fleet's volley and the Spiritual Energy of the OriginalBody and his companions.

But the orcs' offensive suddenly collapsed, and even their 'Waaagh' cry plummeted to its lowest point, because……

The shield world's surface that nurtured them was undergoing 'self‑ignition'.

Looking out.

What was once a vibrant surface now saw its oceans evaporate, its atmosphere grow denser, and its forests, land, countless orcs and their tribes, even the orc spores buried in the soil, all covered and devoured by rolling hot magma.

In the blink of an eye, the shield world's surface completed an absolute and thorough 'purification' procedure.

Not yet finished.

Only saw the metal gates at the shield world's north and south poles slowly opening, simultaneously releasing countless 'metal giant pillars' each ten kilometers long and about one kilometer wide, which then formed a neat circular matrix, after which……

Ree—whoosh—!

Countless cyan‑blue matrix beams, as if equipped with 'guidance crystals', straight or curved, precisely struck the dilapidated fighters, warships, battle moons, and the sole remaining battle planet.

Some of the more clever orc pilots, realizing the situation was dire, hastily changed course to try to escape the firing range, but unfortunately these beams likewise had a 'tracking' ability, essentially refusing to let go.

Boom—boom—boom!!!

In an instant, countless cyan‑blue 'suns' rose throughout the domain, eradicating all orcs, including the Urulan behemoth and the eighteen orc warlords.

The 'Waaagh' stance was not without effect; in fact, before the beam matrix launched its attack, the Urulan behemoth exerted itself fully, emitting a visible Spiritual Energy barrier that enveloped it and the warlords' battle planet.

But…

The attack it faced came from the former galactic hegemon, the pinnacle of materialist ideology——

The Administrators' civilization.

If it could truly defend against it, the only possibility would be that the Administrators launching the attack were 'releasing the sea'; the non‑sentient memory storage, merely obeying Kelakesi's orders, knows only to annihilate all greenskins.

The cyan‑blue suns exploded by the beams instantly 'rose' and then swiftly 'set'.

Within just a few tens of seconds, the shield world had dealt with the threat to the human expeditionary force's main force, absolutely deserving the title of the best 'One‑Click Erase'.

Here we might be unblocked tomorrow; if so, I'll prepare to go to the hospital for a check‑up and take a day off.

If not, I won't take a day off.

Finally, thanks for everyone's support—thanks for the subscriptions, recommendation votes, monthly tickets, and tips~!

(End of chapter)