Chapter 439: with translation of chapter title

none.

As the dull thud of magnetic boots stepping on the ground grew nearer from afar, Helusi, the Shark Battalion commander, and a Shark combat squad had also come not far ahead of Leon, Semaer, and others.

They approached and halted.

As Leon and the other information officers, still belonging to ordinary humans, had to look up at the giants before them, this was also the first time Leon, the other information officers present, Semaer, and the White Executors had closely observed the OriginalBody Helusi at close range.

At seventeen years old, he had a slightly immature face, yet his eyes showed determination; combined with his neat black short hair, though not as flawless as Shengjilesi's, his appearance was still rare in the world.

In fact, among the company's senior leadership and the commanders of many legions, they had gradually learned, over the past few years, about the nine new-generation OriginalBodies.

However, relevant information was scarce; nevertheless, the senior officials and battalion commanders could infer the appearance of the nine new-generation OriginalBodies from the loyal and rebellious OriginalBodies who had already died in Universe Zero-Three.

As for their temperaments and specialties, these could only be analyzed from some battles publicly disclosed by the company.

In contrast, Helusi, who had learned much from his father and read many files, hastily extended his right hand toward Leon, showing an extremely respectful and reverent expression, and said:

"It is an honor to finally see you in person, Director Kennedy; thanks to your fearlessness, our main-universe humanity was able to smoothly pass through the early development stage, and my father often praised you to me and my brothers as a legend of the company, and indeed of all humanity."

"You're too kind; I'm just an ordinary employee."

Leon, who was over two hundred years older than Helusi, gave a humble smile and extended his right hand, vastly different from Helusi's, to shake.

He released the hand.

Helusi also hastily extended his hand toward Semaer, saying a few pleasant pleasantries; moreover, Helusi intentionally or unintentionally released a Spiritual Energy like a spring breeze, causing Semaer and the White Executors' Astate to have much of their displeasure toward the Sharks dissipate.

The pleasantries were over.

Helusi turned his head to glance at the person beside him, and after donning the Terminator gear, he introduced the Shark Battalion commander, who was of similar height, to those present, saying:

"This is the commander of the 75th Battalion of the Dark Crow Guard, known as the 'Crimson Storm,' Taibelos."

Upon hearing Helusi's introduction, everyone turned their attention and gaze to the Shark Battalion commander, who remained silent and stood perfectly still.

However, this battalion commander named Taibelos, even though he knew everyone was waiting for him to speak, still chose to remain silent, causing the goodwill that the White Executors had just gained from Helusi's praise to plummet again.

Fortunately, Semaer had a deep scheming mind; he did not quarrel with the "arrogant," "unqualified" cousins, and instead said proactively: "I have heard of the Crimson Storm's deeds; it is said that while jointly searching for the Shield World with our legion's headquarters, he casually annihilated a Vyrin tribe of uncertain attitude, swift and decisive."

"..." Upon hearing this, Taibelos finally gave a slight nod, having a hint of response.

"Alright, no need for more pleasantries." As the eldest person present, Leon waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to disperse and attend to their tasks, and interrupted the pleasantries between the giants, interjecting:

"Our Intelligence Department has already arranged a temporary station for the Shark Battalion; what we need to do first is discuss joint operations to control and eliminate the anomalous phenomena."

"Director Kennedy's words are absolutely correct." Helusi was the first to echo.

"Hmm." Semaer also agreed.

As for Taibelos, he surprisingly broke his silence and replied in a metallic tone from his helmet: "Correct."

Leon was their father's confidant and an elder of Umbrella; even if Taibelos was aloof, he still owed them considerable respect.

Next.

The Shark Fleet, following the coordinates provided by the Intelligence Department and guided by a small vessel belonging to the White Executors, departed the surface base and headed for the temporary camp that Arcadia had cleared for them.

Leon, Helusi, and the others, meanwhile, went to the office building of the surface base and entered a meeting room equipped with holographic devices but lacking seats.

Here, a three-dimensional star map of the Arcadia star system was displayed in the center; Leon, Helusi, Semaer, Taibelos, and also the White Executors' deputy battalion commander, Ridian Alte, made room to come to the meeting room to discuss matters together.

"Director Kennedy, battalion commanders," Helusi said, looking around at everyone and speaking first: "I heard from my father that the anomalous fluctuations in Arcadia have recently surged; as one of the most important colonies, he hopes we can jointly investigate the anomaly, then control or eliminate it to permanently remove the hidden danger."

"As a junior, I also hope to gain experience from Director Kennedy and you senior brothers in handling anomalous phenomena."

While speaking, Helusi glanced at Ridian Alte, who wore the white executive's civilian uniform, lacked powered armor, and stood only three meters tall, showing an eager-to-learn expression, and continued: "Of course, I also hope to learn from Brother Alte about management, economics, construction, and so on."

"Don't worry," said Alte, who looked like a kindly old man at first glance, without hesitation: "I will pass on all that I know and have learned to you."

"Now let us focus our efforts on the anomaly," Leon interjected timely, raising both hands to manipulate the holographic star map, shrinking the Arcadia model and enlarging the entire star system, and explained to those present:

"Based on the data monitored by our Intelligence Department, after constructing a corresponding model and comparing it with the company's past records, we can predict that the impending anomalous phenomenon should erupt in the outskirts of the Arcadia star system."

"However, we cannot yet confirm what kind of anomaly it is; it could be an otherworldly space, another phenomenon, or a Space Gate capable of linking other parallel universes."

"In short, regardless of the type of anomaly, our Intelligence Department has already warned all military units of Arcadia to prepare deployments in advance, just in case."

Upon hearing Leon's words, Helusi nodded involuntarily, and at the same time secretly noted the key points in Leon's speech, thinking that perhaps when he later becomes a sector governor, it might come in handy.

After Leon finished speaking, Semaer also chimed in: "I have already dispatched three battleships and nine cruisers from our fleet, coordinating with the UNSC's auxiliary fleet, conducting regular patrols at the edge of the star system; if an anomaly does indeed emerge, we will be able to respond in the first…"

"Everyone." Before Semaer could finish, he was interrupted by a female voice devoid of any emotion.

Immediately afterward, the holographic device to the left of the star map generated a figure about 1.7 meters tall, wearing the same white executive's civilian uniform, with long "black straight" hair, and a cold, beautiful "female" appearance.

Furthermore, it was this "female" who interrupted Semaer's speech; seeing her gaze rather vacant, she reported to everyone present:

"Detected an extremely strong Spiritual Energy reaction at coordinates 2235, 1172, 3366; conducting data comparison……"

"Comparison complete; there is a 79% probability it is a vortex Space Gate, with a predicted diameter between 170,000 and 230,000 kilometers."

On the left side of the holographic star map, as the "female" reported, a Space Gate gradually began to be outlined,

Seeing this, everyone present, including Leon who had known everything in advance, showed a relieved expression of "You finally showed up!"

Even though Taibelos had been wearing his helmet all along, he now released a faint "positive," "agitated" Spiritual Energy fluctuation; no one felt the slightest surprise or shock at the sudden appearance of the Space Gate and its 200,000‑kilometer diameter, because…

"This is an achievement delivered right to our door!"

Especially Helusi, who never imagined that, having just left his father's side, he would encounter such a major event!

As for the cosmic environment and civilization level on the other side of the Space Gate,

this is not within anyone's consideration; rather, the harsher the environment and the higher the civilization level, the greater their battle lust—otherwise a problem that could be solved with a single charge would, even if it earned them the corresponding merit, still be hard to get excited about.

Looking again at this "female" before everyone's eyes, her identity is that of a member of the White Executors' battalion department, tasked with increasing the speed and efficiency of handling affairs and strengthening the battalion's oversight of the colonies under its charge, but she lacks emotion and feeling, her thought patterns being entirely a low‑intelligence artificial intelligence serving the battalion.

The appearance of this low‑intelligence AI was customized by the Red and White Empresses; however, the White Executors, having given this entity much help as a diligent "friend," gave it the name "Selina."

Even though this low‑intelligence AI cannot understand the significance behind the White Executors giving her that name, the white‑painted armored giants have long regarded Selina as a member of the battalion.

Rebellion?

Having undergone several technological innovations, having absorbed machine consciousness (Universe Zero-One / *The Matrix*), and with the Red and White Empresses, whose administrator‑civilization technology supports them, pressing down from the peak of the "mountain," the possibility of rebellion has already been eliminated.

There is no "basically," "almost," or "roughly"; it is "already."

The Red and White Empresses, who speak solely according to data, have in the true sense completely eradicated rebellion; not even a spark will arise.

At this time.

Leon, who had obtained the truth from Sui Bian in advance, immediately said: "200,000 kilometers… well, its scale is second only to the Space Gate leading to Universe 03. We cannot be lax, Commander Adiliusi; I suggest that while our intelligence division clarifies the situation on the other side of the Space Gate, we first implement blockade measures to ensure that 'extraterrestrial species' cannot invade our main universe."

"No problem." Sarmal had no objections.

"Leave the stability of Arcadia's situation and public opinion to me," Deputy Commander Alte volunteered.

"Director Kennedy, what about me and the Man-Eater Sharks unit?" Helus looked toward Leon, his eyes revealing undisguised anticipation.

"You and the Man-Eater Sharks will naturally share responsibility for firefighting with the White Executors; perhaps humanity will launch another unprecedented grand expedition in Arcadia." Leon laughed, then added: "But before that, our intelligence division needs to determine what conditions lie beyond the gate."

———————

…

Soon after.

Outside the Arcadia star system.

Coordinates 2235, 1172, 3366.

Vast in scale, perfectly circular, its edges like rolling smoke, emitting an azure light, the vortex Space Gate is located here.

Together they number over nine hundred vessels: the White Executor fleet, the Man-Eater Shark fleet, and the attached UNSC fleet are conducting a full blockade.

At this moment.

Inside the bridge of the Man-Eater Sharks' flagship, the Blood-soaked Shack.

Taibelos, who already wore a dedicated Terminator suit, is now fully armed, with two small missile launchers mounted on his rear shoulders, his left and right arm plates equipped with disassembly mounts, and high-speed chainsaw strips…

Three-bladed retractable power claw.

Since Taibelos couldn't decide whether he preferred the chain sword or the power claw, he simply asked his own unit, and the technical brothers who inherited the craft of the "God of Artisans" Hephestus, to custom-make for him this pair of "chain-saw lightning claws".

Standing opposite Taibelos, also beside the main console, Helus likewise changed into a coating mainly of dark green and black with gold accents, his power pack and shoulders draped in beast fur, the "Serpent's Scale"—elaborate in appearance yet practical.

After donning his dedicated armor, Helus's height is unquestionably the greatest in Arcadia, reaching 4.55 meters.

In terms of weaponry, Helus's armor has a dual-linked 1.25-cal explosive bolt gun mounted on the outer plate of his left forearm, with the ammo belt connected to the ammunition box on his rear waist; simultaneously, his left hand wears a five-fingered, long-bladed spiritual energy claw—

Helus's Claw.

This specially patterned spiritual energy claw originally belonged to the newly enthroned emperor of Universe 03, who was beaten to death by John, Rog, Kelakesi, Angelong, and Shengjilesi—the traitorous Helus.

When Umbrella recovered all items related to the traitorous Helus, it included what could be considered a divine weapon: "Helus's Claw."

When Sui Bian first obtained this weapon, he immediately dispelled the influence of chaotic power, infused it with pure spiritual energy, had four guards escort it to the main universe, and then had Hephestus reforge it, resulting in the spiritual energy claw still named "Helus's Claw" today.

His right hand was empty, but likewise, after receiving Sui Bian's "blessing," the Worldbreaker Warhammer that underwent reforging was affixed to the rear right side of the Serpent's Scale.

These two giants silently watched the holographic screen, observing the relevant scenes beyond the Space Gate.

In fact, after the Space Gate was generated, Leon dispatched a scout-type engineering vessel, following standard procedure to survey and scan the Space Gate, attempting to determine the conditions beyond it.

At this moment, the real-time images and text displayed on the holographic screen show that the Space Gate's location beyond is the outer reaches of the solar system in a parallel universe, situated in the Kuiper Belt, which is filled with asteroids and dwarf planets.

As the intelligence division's engineering vessel, using faster-than-light travel, instantly arrived at Earth in the parallel universe and released scout-type robots that activated optical camouflage and concealment effects, entering the atmosphere to conduct deeper investigation and observation…

Besides obtaining information that the human technological level on the parallel Earth is comparable to that of our own universe at the end of the twentieth century, they also discovered that New York in North America appears to be suffering an extraterrestrial species invasion.

(End of Chapter)