Chapter 518
No problem.
The Sergeant Major and all the brothers instantly became energized, immediately agreed, turned, and hurried toward the Black Mountain Range; in an instant, the giant-like figure vanished from everyone's sight.
The Sergeant Major and all the brothers instantly became energized, immediately agreed, turned, and hurried toward the Black Mountain Range; in an instant, the giant-like figure vanished from everyone's sight. (Same as 【3】 but we can output that.)
Combine: "Sergeant Major and all the brothers instantly became energized, immediately agreed, and turned to hurry toward the Black Mountain Range; in an instant, the giant-like figure vanished from everyone's sight."
Make sure it's one line.
「. 」 This line is just a period inside quotes? Actually Chinese line: 「. 」 That's a quoted period. Probably indicates silence or something. We translate as "."? The content is just a period. We should output the same punctuation? Probably translate as ".". So line: ".".
And while looking ahead at the already empty expanse, and gazing at the distant mountain peak shrouded in bloody sky, Leon also wasn't sure whether sending them on reconnaissance was right or wrong.
While looking at the already empty ahead, and then gazing at the distant mountain peak shrouded in bloody sky, Leon also wasn't sure whether sending them on reconnaissance was right or wrong.
We need to keep "Leon". So: "While looking at the already empty ahead, and then gazing at the distant mountain peak shrouded in bloody sky, Leon also wasn't sure whether sending them on reconnaissance was right or wrong."
Although the Aberrants pose no threat, that doesn't mean the anomaly hidden in the Black Mountain Peak is as easy to deal with as the Aberrants.
Although the Aberrants pose no threat, that doesn't mean the anomaly hidden in the Black Mountain Peak is as easy to deal with as the Aberrants.
In the end, Leon stopped worrying about right or wrong, turned and led the support troops including Lin Hong, assisted the technicians in tidying up the camp, and prepared to await the arrival of Kang Si Tan Ding and the Plague Doctor.
In the end, Leon stopped worrying about right or wrong, turned and led the support troops including Lin Hong, assisted the technicians in tidying up the camp, and prepared to await the arrival of Kang Si Tan Ding and the Plague Doctor.
———————
This is a separator line; we should translate as same? Probably just keep the line as is? The instruction: translate faithfully. The line is a series of em dashes. We can output the same: "———————". But we need to output 【7】 then the translation. So we output the same line of dashes.
Soon after.
-> "Soon after."
The position on the north-facing mountainside of the Black Mountain Range is about a kilometer away in a straight line from the camp at the mountain base; numerous black protrusive boulders are scattered here, forming a stone forest that would easily cause an ordinary person to lose direction if they ventured deep into it.
Translate: "The position on the mountainside of the north face of the Black Mountain Range is about a kilometer away in a straight line from the camp at the mountain base; here numerous black protrusive boulders are scattered here, forming a stone forest that would easily cause an ordinary person to lose direction if they ventured deep into it."
Need to keep numbers: about a kilometer -> "about a kilometer". We'll keep "about a kilometer". Let's craft: "The position on the north-facing mountainside of the Black Mountain Range is about a kilometer away in a straight line from the camp at the mountain base; numerous black protrusive boulders are scattered here, forming a stone forest that would easily cause an ordinary person to lose direction if they ventured deep into it." (But this is same as 【22】. However we need to output something. Perhaps we just output: "about a kilometer". But the line includes extra English. To be safe, we output the translation of the Chinese phrase only: "about a kilometer". However the instruction says output exactly one line per item as: 【N】
If the anomaly hidden in the mountain uses some special frequency bands to interfere, then for ordinary people it is a catastrophic disaster.
"If the anomaly hidden in the mountain uses some special frequency bands to interfere, then for ordinary people it would be a catastrophic disaster."
But this is nothing to the Sergeant Major and the other Astartes.
"But, to the Sergeant Major and the Astates present, it's hardly anything at all."
Only two power-armored figures, painted bright red and dark gold, with helmets like the crown of an Egyptian pharaoh, Thutmose, walked straight up to the brothers, then raised their staffs bearing the imperial insignia toward the stone forest.
But "Tu Te Mo Si" is a name; we need to romanize: Tu Te Mo Si? Actually Tu Te Mo Si -> Tu Te Mo Si. We'll output as "Tu Te Mo Si". However, the phrase "helmets like the crown of an Egyptian pharaoh, Tu Te Mo Si" could be read as "helmets like the crown of an Egyptian pharaoh, Thutmose". So we treat "Tu Te Mo Si" as a name. So we will romanize.
Thus: "Only saw two power-armored figures, their paint bright red and dark gold, helmets like the crown of an Egyptian pharaoh, Tu Te Mo Si, walking straight up to the brothers, then raising their staffs bearing the imperial insignia and swinging them toward the stone forest."
Immediately followed, Ri——!! "Boom——!!"
Immediately followed, Ri——!! "Boom——!!"
A burst of dazzling bright red, leaning toward pale pink, spiritual energy swept across the stone forest in a fan shape in less than the blink of an eye.
Translate: "A burst of dazzling bright red, leaning toward pale pink, Spiritual Shock, in less than the blink of an eye, swept across the stone forest before them in a fan shape."
We need to use glossary term "Spiritual Shock". So: "A burst of dazzling bright red, leaning toward pale pink, Spiritual Shock, in less than the blink of an eye, swept across the stone forest before them in a fan shape."
Moreover, the spiritual energy's force did not diminish; it even sliced off more than half of one side of the mountain peak.
"Moreover, the Spiritual Shock's force did not diminish, and it even sheared off more than half of one side of the mountain peak's summit."
After settling, the two Tu Te Mo Si, as if having done something extremely ordinary, retrieved their staffs to their waists and casually picked up bolt rifles.
"After finishing, the two Tu Te Mo Si acted as if they had just done something utterly ordinary, retracting their staffs to their waists and, as an afterthought, picking up bolt rifles."
"Bolt rifle"
Just as they turned back, they "saw" the brothers' expressions, which seemed somewhat off.
"Just as the two turned their heads, they \"saw\" the brothers' expressions, which seemed somewhat off."
Of course, in everyone else's eyes, the brothers each wore helmets with an awkward face, making it impossible to see their expressions, but for the Tu Te Mo Si who are highly adept at Spiritual Energy, the helmets are essentially useless.
Of course, in everyone else's eyes, the brothers all wore helmets with an awkward face, making their expressions impossible to read, but for the Tu Te Mo Si who are highly adept at Spiritual Energy, the helmets are essentially useless.
but for the Tu Te Mo Si who are highly adept at Spiritual Energy, the helmets are essentially useless.
As for the Sergeant Major and his comrades, they once again felt up close that the legion totals only fifteen thousand, all of whom are Spiritual User Tu Te Mo Si—just how formidable they are, otherwise they'd show a bit of surprise.
"As for the Sergeant Major and his group, they once again felt up close just how formidable a legion of only fifteen thousand, all of whom are Spiritual User Tu Te Mo Si, truly is—otherwise they would have shown a bit of surprise."
all of whom are Spiritual User Tu Te Mo Si
"Cough cough." The Sergeant Major gave a light cough, pointed his hand toward the blood-red light source ahead, "Alright brothers, it's time to tear open that bastard's skull and hand it over to the doctor for research—let's go!"
"Cough cough." The Sergeant Major gave a light cough, pointed his hand toward the blood-red light source ahead, "Alright brothers, it's time to tear open that bastard's skull and hand it over to the doctor for research—let's go!"
"Yes." The brothers all nodded in agreement.
"\"Yes. \" All the brothers nodded in agreement."
Subsequently, the six Astartes, according to their respective battalions, paired up and formed a typical triangular formation, continuing to advance quickly, arriving at a smooth, flat cave entrance cut by the spiritual energy impact.
"Afterward, the six Astates, according to their respective battalions, paired up and formed a typical triangular formation, continuing to advance quickly, arriving at a mountain cave entrance whose surface had been smoothed and regularized by the Spiritual Shock's cutting."
And the blood-red light illuminating the sky seems to emanate from here.
"And the blood-red light illuminating the sky seems to emanate from here."
The six brothers exchanged glances and silently reached a decision.
"The six brothers exchanged a glance and silently reached a decision."
Next, the Sergeant Major, the most balanced in offense and defense among them, and another Spartan wielding a round shield and a power spear took the lead; the two Spiritual Shock Tu Te Mo Si responsible for releasing spiritual energy took the middle; while the two Dark Raven guards covered the rear.
"Next, the Sergeant Major, who excels in both offense and defense, and another Spartan wielding a round shield and a power spear take the lead; the two Spiritual Shock Tu Te Mo Si responsible for releasing Spiritual Energy take the middle; and the two Dark Crow Guard take up the rear."
the two Spiritual Shock Tu Te Mo Si responsible for releasing Spiritual Energy take the middle. Also "Sparta" is Sparta (glossary). So "another Spartan". Good.
They are proud but not arrogant; this place is ultimately a narrow area, and besides, they adhere to their father's principle of 'strategically dismissive, tactically focused,' which makes them raise their vigilance as they venture deeper into the cave.
"They are proud but not arrogant; this place is ultimately a narrow corridor, and because they adhere to their father's principle of \"strategic contempt, tactical emphasis, \" they heighten their vigilance as they delve into the cavern."
They proceeded inside.
"Upon entering the interior."
They discovered that this place was not filled with blinding light as it appeared from outside, but rather the opposite: the tunnel leading deep into the mountain was a world unto itself, not only was the space extremely spacious, but the surrounding rock walls emitting a faint blood-red light also had a frosted crystal texture.
"They discovered that, contrary to the blinding light seen from outside, this passage leading deep into the mountain peak is another world entirely—not only is the space extremely spacious, but the surrounding rock walls emitting a faint blood-red light also have a frosted crystal texture."
At first glance, it seemed as though they had entered a crystal hall leading to the earth's core.
"At first glance, their party seems to have entered the crystal hall leading to the earth's core."
「. 」
Again just a quoted period. So output ".".
However, this strange phenomenon merely caused the six Astartes to pause briefly before they continued onward toward the base of the mountain range.
"However, this strange phenomenon at most merely caused the six Astates to pause briefly before continuing forward toward the base of the mountain range."
To be honest, the surprise brought by this crystal hall and tunnel might even be less than the recent psychic shock, mainly because they have lived too long and seen too much.
"To be frank, the surprise brought by this crystal hall and tunnel is probably still less than that of the recent Spiritual Shock, mainly because they have lived too long and seen too much."
Continue downward.
"Continue downward."
The crystal tunnel began to narrow gradually, reducing the group's available space, while they also faintly heard a wind howl resembling laughter.
"The crystal tunnel began to narrow gradually, reducing the party's available space, while they also faintly heard a wind howl resembling laughter."
And the low-intelligence AI on the bridge of the Griffin also used Thor's Hammer to receive, observe, and capture all feedback, constructing a three-dimensional schematic of the mountain's interior and transmitting it to the upper‑right corner of the Thor's Hammer helmet screen.
"And the low-intelligence artificial intelligence on the bridge of the Griffin, also using Thor's Hammer to receive, observe, and capture all feedback, constructed a three-dimensional schematic of the mountain's interior and transmitted it to the upper-right corner of the Thor's Hammer helmet screen."
And the low-intelligence artificial intelligence on the bridge of the Griffin, also using Thor's Hammer to receive, observe, and capture all feedback, constructed a three-dimensional schematic of the mountain's interior and transmitted it to the upper-right corner of the Thor's Hammer helmet screen.
？
Just a question mark inside quotes? Actually line: "？". So we output "?".
Upon seeing this, the six Astartes' interest was instantly piqued; they quickened their pace, spent a little time navigating the tunnel, and arrived at the end of the tunnel beneath the surface.
"Upon seeing this, the six Astates' interest was instantly piqued; they quickened their pace, spent a little time navigating the tunnel, and arrived at the tunnel's end beneath the surface."
Because at the edge of the cliff‑like end, what lay before them was a massive, ruined city that did not belong to any known civilization's style, its buildings arranged seemingly at random and in disarray.
"Because at the edge of the cliff-like terminus, what lay before their eyes was a metropolis that did not belong to any known civilization's style, its buildings arranged seemingly at random and chaotic, yet vast in scale—a ruined city."
"Hah." Witnessing the scene, and then glancing again at the dark reddish glow still illuminating the entire city's "crystal" top, the Spartan brothers couldn't help but let out a soft hum: "Finally, we've found something interesting."
"Hah." Witnessing the scene, and then glancing again at the dark reddish glow still illuminating the entire city's "crystal" top, the Spartan brothers couldn't help but let out a soft hum: "Finally, we've found something interesting."
「. 」
Again just a quoted period. So ".".
The two Ravens who aren't fond of talking also nodded in agreement.
"The two not-so-talkative Dark Crow also nodded in agreement."
And the two Spiritual Shock Tu Te Mo Si also remained silent, possibly considering how much range to control the force of their released Spiritual Energy so as not to "blow away" the entire mountain.
"And the two Spiritual Shock Tu Te Mo Si also remained silent, possibly pondering how much range to control their Spiritual Energy's force in, so as not to \"blow away\" the entire mountain."
And the two Spiritual Shock Tu Te Mo Si also remained silent, possibly pondering how much range to control the force of their released Spiritual Energy in, so as not to "blow away" the entire mountain.
"Brothers." The Sergeant Major then withdrew his gaze and, addressing the brothers standing beside him, proposed: "At present, we have gathered enough information, and according to Meidu Sha (the shipborne low-intelligence AI)'s analysis, moving forward and continuing downward should be where the anomaly's main body resides."
"Brothers." The Sergeant Major then withdrew his gaze and, addressing the brothers standing beside him, proposed: "At present, we have gathered enough information, and according to Meidu Sha (the shipborne low-intelligence AI)'s analysis, moving forward and continuing downward should be where the anomaly's main body resides."
However, this also means that we six will be the first to make contact with the entity's existence in the real universe, capable of plundering souls and affecting normal biological bodies, encountering anomalous beings akin to eldritch gods and demons from other dimensions.
"But, this also means that we six will be the first to make contact with the anomaly's main body existing in the real universe, capable of plundering souls and affecting normal biological forms, akin to an extradimensional evil god or demon."
Without analytical support from the medic (the plague doctor), rashly stepping into their territory would likely provoke a strong counterattack, so brothers, have you decided what to do?
"Without the doctor's (Plague Doctor's) analytical assistance, rashly stepping into their territory would very likely provoke a strong backlash; so, brothers, have you all decided what to do?"
"Catch that bastard."
"\"Catch that bastard. \""
"Better give him a good beating."
"\"Better yet, give him a good beating. \""
As soon as the words fell, the brothers gave their feedback.
"As soon as the words fell, the brothers gave their feedback."
It's obvious—we're already here, so why not just take it on directly?
"It's obvious—since we're already here, why not just take it on directly?"
"Haha! Good!"
"\"Haha! Good! \""
The Sergeant Major laughed heartily, then stepped forward and leapt off the cliff without activating any buffers, crashing into the edge of the ruined city a hundred meters below, with the brothers following closely behind.
"The Sergeant Major laughed heartily, then stepped forward and leapt off the cliff without activating any buffers, smashing into the edge of the ruined city a hundred meters below, with the brothers closely following."
Boom——!!
"\"Boom——!! \""
The violent disturbance of the magnetic boots kicking up shallow pits spread and echoed throughout the vast space in an instant, announcing that new "guests" had visited—there was no thought of stealth or covert infiltration, after all every Astartes knows that when they airdrop onto the ground, that anomaly has already been watching them, and just like their father, they feel nauseated by that "gaze," losing all appetite…
"The violent disturbance of the magnetic boots kicking up shallow pits spread and echoed throughout the vast space in an instant, announcing that new \"guests\" had visited—there was no thought of stealth or covert infiltration, after all every Astate knows that when they airdrop onto the ground, that anomaly has already been watching them, and just like their father, they feel nauseated by that \"gaze, \" losing all appetite…"
The violent disturbance of the magnetic boots kicking up shallow pits spread and echoed throughout the vast space in an instant, announcing that new "guests" had visited—there was no thought of stealth or covert infiltration, after all every Astartes knows that when they airdrop onto the ground, that anomaly has already been watching them, and just like their father, they feel nauseated by that "gaze," losing all appetite…
This is actually good news for the Griffin's mess personnel, no way around it—who let the Astartes' food intake be astonishingly large.
"This is actually good news for the Griffin's mess personnel, no way around it—who let the Astates' food intake be astonishingly large."
This is actually good news for the Griffin's mess personnel, no way around it—who let the Astartes' food intake be astonishingly large.
As they ventured deeper into the ruined city, that feeling of nausea grew stronger, and there was even an invisible, powerful will attempting to erode their thoughts.
"Once they delved deeper into the ruined city, that feeling of nausea intensified further, and there was even an invisible, powerful will attempting to erode their thoughts."
"Father above, bless me and my brothers."
"Father above, bless me and my brothers."
But, as the two Spiritual Shock Tu Te Mo Si brothers whispered something and released a full-body, pale pink Spiritual Energy barrier for everyone present, they effectively slowed the erosion of that powerful will.
"But, as the two Spiritual Shock Tu Te Mo Si brothers whispered something and released a full-body, pale pink Spiritual Energy barrier for everyone present, they effectively slowed the erosion of that powerful will."
But, as the two Spiritual Shock Tu Te Mo Si brothers whispered something and released a full-body, pale pink Spiritual Energy barrier for everyone present, they effectively slowed the erosion of that powerful will.
They continued their "swaggering" advance for a moment.
"They continued their \"swaggering\" advance for a moment."
They continued their "swaggering" advance for a moment.
The Sergeant Major at the front suddenly halted, and the brothers immediately formed a triangular formation, gripped their weapons, and heightened their vigilance.
"The Sergeant Major, walking at the front, suddenly halted, and all the brothers immediately opened into a triangular formation, gripped their weapons, and heightened their vigilance."
Soon.
A faint, eerie aura began to spread around, some forming thorn‑covered vines like tendrils, trying to touch and ensnare the six Astate standing in the middle of the street.
Sizzle! But as soon as the tendrils approached, they were scorched by a pale pink Spiritual Energy barrier.
!
After feeling the pain, all the tendrils swiftly recoiled and coiled not far from the Astate, as if waiting for an opportunity.
"Hmph, only cowards hiding in the dark." The sergeant glanced at the vine tendrils around, muttered a complaint, lifted his left hand to draw the bolt pistol hanging at his rear waist, adjusted the explosive yield via his helmet display, aimed forward, and pulled the trigger.
"Clang!"
Accompanied by a crisp, pleasant gunshot, a bolt round shot out instantly, passing through the insubstantial vine swarm and straight toward the heart of the ruined city, then—Ri~——————! —white light flared, everything in the underground cavern turned like a black‑and‑white comic, and all the central buildings were utterly consumed.
"Boom~——————!!!"
Next came a scorching hot wave mixed with building debris, and a supersonic shockwave that began at the epicenter and swept across the entire ruined city.
In just a few seconds.
The antimatter bolt round annihilated one‑third of the ruined city.
While the sergeant and his comrades standing not far from the blast epicenter were unharmed, the eerie aura resembling vine tendrils that enveloped the vicinity was annihilated together.
After all, what Astate excel at is "physical exorcism".
"Whoo~——————!" The aftershocks dissipated.
"Rumble… rumble…"
Yet the entire lower space did not cease vibrating just because the aftershocks subsided; however, the anticipated collapse from the violent explosion that the sergeant and his men had expected did not occur.
Thus, it has been confirmed that a single antimatter bolt strike can be withstood beneath this mountain peak.
It seems to have some research value.
After the tremors subsided somewhat,
The sergeant, who had recorded all current data, swung his short sword forward and, without a word, led his brothers toward the already collapsed city center.
En route.
Those bizarre‑style buildings, with jet‑black crystal exteriors and shapes ranging from long rectangles to irregular trapezoids, first tilted askew, then shattered into fragments.
When the sergeant and his party reached the blast's core radius, the surroundings had long lost any semblance of a city; everything had been "blown away" by the matter‑antimatter annihilation, vanishing without a trace.
Not long after.
They arrived at the blast's epicenter.
The reason the sergeant and his men tacitly accepted the term "collapse" was that the explosion had created a gap roughly a hundred meters in diameter, effectively giving them a shortcut.
Standing at the edge and looking down,
aside from the dark red mist obscuring vision, a faint, intermittent giant plaza could be seen below.
"Ishtar, Karoni." Seeing this, the sergeant slightly turned his head, looked at the two Tutmos on his right, and asked: "How is it? Can you sense that abnormal thing below?"
Upon hearing this, the two fell silent, then each put down their staff; one of them, with a metallic‑toned voice, said solemnly: "With our Spiritual Energy, we still cannot discern its source; we can only try to dispel the mist first."
Saying that, the two Tutmos released a wave of Spiritual Energy imperceptible to the naked eye.
After lasting several seconds, the dark red mist finally thinned considerably, allowing the Astate to visually discern part of the plaza below.
Massive floor tiles, stone pillars, and numerous statues and symbols of unknown significance were composed either of a matte texture or of clear, bright crystal.
Moreover, on the right side of the gap—corresponding to the north on the surface—light flickered intermittently, flashing with scarlet radiance.
Simply observing downward, even the Astate felt an indescribable oppression, as well as a subtle…
Fear?
It appears that the anomalous entities on the surface are indeed a byproduct of some kind of soul‑plundering, posing no threat themselves, but the indefinable entity behind everything seems no longer a trivial matter.
Especially after they underwent G‑gland implantation and modification surgery, underwent trials on a prehistoric planet, and became Astate, they rarely experienced fear or intimidation.
They eased up.
"Continue?" a Raven brother asked.
"Continue."
The sergeant said nothing to boost morale, gripped his short sword, and continued forward, descending toward the plaza below.
And his brothers followed without hesitation, one after another.
Know that they are Astate, sons of the Human Emperor, and the most steadfast line of defense for humanity.
If, in society, they are highly respected and normally live in comfort, then when faced with powerful anomalies and enemies they might retreat out of fear…
then they are unworthy to be humanity's guardians, let alone worthy of being their father's sons!
———————
…
The gloomy plaza deep within the mountain range.
"Thud! Thud!"
Each weighing several tons, the Astate shattered the crystal‑like floor tiles the instant their feet touched the ground.
"Hum! Hum!"
Crystal shards of various sizes splashed outward, simultaneously triggering the Thor's Hammer to automatically raise an energy shield that helped the sergeant and his men offset the impact.
!!!
However, the moment they made out the "thing" at the center of the plaza, they instantly paired up, entered combat readiness, and aimed their weapons at the plaza's center.
Because the colossal "man‑eating flower" that had appeared in Leon, Lin Hong, and others' dreams was being confined within some vague, reality‑warping binding field.
"Sizzle… sizzle…!"
Just as the sergeant and his men witnessed the "man‑eating flower," their communication with the Griffin was abruptly cut off.
Although their Thor's Hammer Mark VIII and Mark IX were not yet equipped with the latest quantum communication repeaters like the various Terminator models, they were not something ordinary petty foes could interfere with or shield.
"Ha… ha…"
Moreover, the Man-eating Flower bound within some kind of stance also, in a timely manner, let out a thick nasal laugh, using rather incoherent phrasing, said in a low voice: "Welcome... to... my Asasitiye's Divine Realm..."
(End of chapter)
End of Chapter
