Chapter 231

Hong Kong, the Sky Dome Hunter mecha base.

Translation: "Xianggang, Dome Hunter Mecha Base." (Note: keep comma). Should we keep the comma? Yes.

Huang Xiaoming, who plays the male lead, stands with his back to the audience, wearing earphones as he works out and listens to music.

Huang Xiaoming, who played the male lead, had his back to the audience, wearing earphones while exercising and listening to music.

The music playing is the same "Time" track from Inception—it's both striking and somewhat oppressive.

Translation: "The music playing was the same track 'Time' from the movie Inception, somewhat shocking and also a bit oppressive." Keep quotes? We'll keep as is.

The scene cuts to Liu Yifei, who plays the female lead, lying in a clean, cute room reading a comic, occasionally breaking into a goofy grin.

Translation: "The camera switched to Liu Yifei, playing the female lead, lying in a clean, cute-style room reading a comic book, occasionally bursting into a silly laugh."

Suddenly, an alarm blares within the Sky Dome Hunter mecha base.

Translation: "Suddenly, the alarm sounded inside the Dome Hunter Mecha Base."

Huang Xiaoming, mid‑workout, froze, dropped his gear, grabbed his clothes, and bolted outside.

Translation: "Huang Xiaoming, who was working out, froze for a moment, put down his equipment, grabbed his clothes, and ran out swiftly."

Liu Yifei sets aside her comic, leaps from the bed, quickly throws on a jacket, and ties her hair back as she runs.

Translation: "Liu Yifei put down the comic book, jumped up from the bed, quickly put on her coat, and while running tied up her hair that was hanging loose."

At that moment, the entire Sky Dome Hunter base was alerted; hundreds streamed in from all sides into the information hall, some just standing to watch, others heading back to their stations.

Translation: "At that moment, everyone in the Dome Hunter Base was stirred; hundreds poured in from all directions into the base's information hall, some merely standing in the field to watch, others returning to their posts."

Gao Xiong, who plays the Chinese general, now has whiter hair than before, his expression increasingly grave, and he asks in a subdued tone: "What's the situation?"

Translation: "Gao Xiong, playing the Chinese general, whose hair had turned whiter than in the previous installment, looked increasingly stern and asked in a deep voice: 'What's the situation?'"

The female communications officer at the computer says: "Japan has sent an alert—Numazu City was just hit by a level‑four monster, and their Tango Wolf II mecha has already been sent out!"

Translation: "The female communications officer at the computer said: 'Japan has sent an alert—Numazu City has just been attacked by a level-four monster, and their mecha Tango Wolf II has already gone there!'"

When this was announced, everyone in the hall was stunned, their faces filled with surprise.

Translation: "Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was shocked to the core, all wearing looks of astonishment."

"A level‑four monster?"

Translation: "\"A level-four monster? \""

"It's returned again?"

Translation: "\"It's come back again? \""

"It's only been ten years of peace!"

Translation: "\"It's only been ten years of peace! \""

"Why didn't we get any prior warning?"

Translation: "\"Why was there no warning at all before?! \""

Huang Xiaoming pushes through the crowd: "General Huo, should we send reinforcements?"

Translation: "Huang Xiaoming stepped forward: 'General Huo, should we send support?'"

Liu Yifei beside him remains silent, just stepping forward a step, expressing her resolve to stand together.

Translation: "Liu Yifei stood beside him without speaking, merely stepping forward one pace, showing a resolve to share fate."

Gao Xiong, who plays General Huo, frowns slightly, his expression turning graver, and after a brief pause he says.

Translation: "Gao Xiong, playing General Huo, furrowed his brows slightly, his expression growing graver, and after a brief pause he spoke."

"No, the situation is still unclear, you have no combat experience, and rushing in would be too dangerous—I'll first get in touch with the other bases."

Translation: "\"No, the situation is unclear, you also lack combat experience, rushing in would be too risky—I'll contact the other bases first. \""

After speaking, the communications officer had already contacted Tokyo, San Francisco, Sydney, and Vladivostok—the other four Hunter Mecha bases.

Translation: "Having said that, the communications officer had already called the remaining four mecha hunter bases in Tokyo, San Francisco, Sydney, and Vladivostok."

The video link quickly comes up, showing the heads of the other bases on the big screen; the US officer in charge of the San Francisco Hunter Mecha base remains Samuel Jackson as the Black general.

Translation: "Soon the video call connected, and the heads of the other bases appeared on the big screen; the American officer in charge of the San Francisco Mecha Hunter Base was still Samuel Jackson portraying the Black General."

He asks right away: "Asō, what's the situation on your end?"

Translation: "He opened with: 'Asō, what's the situation on your end?'"

The Japanese base commander says: "We've already dispatched our most advanced mecha, the Tango Wolf II, by military transport to handle it—we should have results shortly!"

Translation: "The Japanese base commander said: 'We've already sent our most advanced mecha, Tango Wolf II, via military transport to deal with it; results will come soon!'"

At the Sky Dome base, the communications officer instantly switches the map, displaying on the big screen the straight‑line distance from Numazu City to Tokyo Bay.

Translation: "On our end at the Dome Hunter Base, the communications officer instantly switched the map, marking on the big screen the straight-line distance between Numazu City and Tokyo Bay."

"General, it's just 100 kilometers away; we should have an answer soon."

Translation: "'General, it's only a hundred kilometers; we should have results shortly.'"

Gao Xiong still frowns, asking the others on the big screen: "Did the monitors pick up any feedback from the previous 'channel'?" The other commanders all replied that they detected nothing.

Translation: "Gao Xiong still frowned, asking the others on the big screen: 'Did the monitors pick up any feedback from the previous "channel"?' The other officials all said they had detected nothing."

The Black general says: "It seems a new channel has opened up again, and we need to figure out how to destroy it."

Translation: "The Black General said: 'It seems a new channel has appeared again; we must find a way to destroy it!'"

The Russian official says: "To destroy the channel, someone will have to sacrifice themselves."

Translation: "The Russian official said: 'To destroy the channel, someone has to sacrifice themselves!'"

"Daniel (the male lead from the first movie) didn't make a sacrifice!" the Black general says.

Translation: "\"Daniel (the male lead from the first film) didn't sacrifice himself! \" the Black General said."

The Russian official says: "But he still died of illness within two years, and his partner retired for health reasons—do you think that's unrelated to destroying the channel?"

Translation: "The Russian official replied: 'But he still died of illness within two years, and his partner retired due to health issues—do you think that's unrelated to blowing up the channel?'"

Huang Xiaoming, Liu Yifei, and the others hear this clearly, and their expressions grow solemn.

Translation: "Huang Xiaoming, Liu Yifei, and the others heard every word, their faces grave."

Asō Jirō says: "This sort of thing always demands sacrifice; from the day you become a mecha pilot, you must be ready for that possibility."

Translation: "Asō Jirō said: 'Such things always require sacrifice; from the day one becomes a mecha pilot, one must be mentally prepared for that!'"

At that moment, a faint voice emanates from the speakers around the top of the hall.

Translation: "At that moment, a faint voice came from the speakers around the top of the hall."

"Oh no, Major General Asō—the Tango Wolf II in Numazu City has been hit by two level‑four monsters; the mecha and its pilot have been completely destroyed in a glorious sacrifice."

Oh no, Major General Asō—the Tango Wolf II in Numazu City has been attacked by two level‑four monsters; the mecha and its pilot have all been destroyed in glorious sacrifice.

"What?"

Translation: "\"What? \""

Asō Jirō cries out in shock, and his image instantly vanishes from the big screen as the video call is disconnected.

Translation: "Asō Jirō exclaimed in shock, and immediately his image on the big screen vanished as the video call was cut off."

At the Sky Dome Hunter mecha base, everyone present looks grave.

Translation: "At the Dome Hunter Mecha Base, everyone present wore a solemn expression."

But inside the premiere venue, a burst of cheerful laughter breaks out.

Translation: "But inside the premiere venue, a burst of cheerful laughter rang out."

"Although it doesn't feel good, I just can't help wanting to laugh!" a viewer mutters.

Translation: "\"Although it doesn't feel good, I just can't help wanting to laugh! \" a viewer muttered."

"Yeah, the Japanese living comfortably seem a bit goofy!"

Translation: "\"Yeah, the Japanese folks living comfortably seem a bit goofy! \""

"I love this part!"

Translation: "\"I like this part! \""

The audience chatter excitedly, their enthusiasm high.

Translation: "The audience chatted excitedly, their enthusiasm high."

On the big screen, after destroying the Tango Wolf II, the two monsters race swiftly toward Mount Fuji.

Translation: "On the big screen, the two monsters, after destroying Tango Wolf II, sped swiftly toward Mount Fuji."

In the sky, several helicopters trail at a distance, some continuously firing to interfere.

Translation: "In the sky, several helicopters followed at a distance, some continuously firing to interfere."

But these two monsters have thick hides and are completely unaffected; bullets striking them feel like a tickle.

Translation: "But the two monsters' hides were thick and tough, completely unaffected; bullets hitting them felt like a tickle."

An observer on one helicopter reports to his superior: "Judging by their appearance, they're heading for Mount Fuji!"

Translation: "An observer on one of the helicopters reported to his superior: 'Judging by their appearance, they're heading for Mount Fuji!'"

"Mount Fuji? What are the monsters doing over there?" Asō Jirō looks puzzled.

Translation: "\"Mount Fuji? What are the monsters doing over there? \" Asō Jirō looked puzzled."

Since we can't figure it out, we naturally need to consult the other bases.

Translation: "Since it was unclear, naturally they needed to consult the other bases."

The video system reconnects, and he reports the latest findings.

Translation: "The video system reconnected, and he reported the latest findings."

On the Hong Kong Sky Dome Hunter base side, the two goofy doctors from the first film chime in, saying: "I get it—they definitely want to trigger a volcanic eruption at Mount Fuji, thereby setting off volcanic activity across the entire Pacific plate, opening a larger channel; then it wouldn't be just one or two monsters coming to Earth, but an uncountable army of monsters!"

Translation: "On our side at the Xianggang Dome Hunter Mecha Base, the two comic-relief doctors from the first film blurted out: 'I get it—they definitely want to trigger an eruption of Mount Fuji, thereby setting off volcanic activity across the entire Pacific plate to open a larger channel, so that instead of just one or two monsters coming to Earth, there would be an uncountable army of them!'"

The other adds: "Near Mount Fuji there are large amounts of rare‑earth elements; when they merge with the monsters' blood, they can cause massive air pollution, making it impossible for humans to survive, while the monsters are unaffected by the polluted environment—this also explains why they only appear near the Pacific."

Translation: "The other said: 'Near Mount Fuji there are abundant rare-earth elements; when they fuse with the monsters' blood, they can cause massive air pollution, after which no human could survive, while the monsters would be unaffected by the polluted environment—that's also why they only appear near the Pacific.'"

Upon hearing this, everyone present is startled.

Translation: "Upon hearing this, everyone present was startled badly."

The Black general says: "We must stop them, no matter the cost!"

Translation: "The Black General said: 'We must stop them, at any cost!'"

Asō Jirō is terrified, stammering: "But we have no mechs left here, and the Self‑Defense Forces aren't a match!"

Translation: "Asō Jirō was scared stiff: 'But we have no mechs left here, and the Self-Defense Forces aren't a match!'"

The Black general says: "We've deployed two light mechs in Busan; they'll arrive in about forty minutes. No matter what you do, you must delay them for more than forty minutes, otherwise you'll just watch Mount Fuji erupt and Tokyo Bay be destroyed."

Translation: "The Black General said: 'We've deployed two light mechs in Busan; they'll be here in about forty minutes. No matter what you do, you must delay for over forty minutes, or else watch Mount Fuji erupt and Tokyo Bay be destroyed!'"

Asō Jirō wears a constipated expression and slowly says: "All right!"

Translation: "Asō Jirō wore a constipated expression and slowly said: 'All right!'"

On the Hong Kong side, General Huo says: "Our route is too far—it'll take four hours to get there."

Translation: "Over here in Xianggang, General Huo said: 'Our route is too far—it'll take four hours to get there!'"

Asō Jirō says: "As we've said before, the fifth‑generation mechs are too heavy; only the light, agile sixth‑generation mechs can be quickly deployed to the battlefield."

Translation: "Asō Jirō said: 'As we've said before, fifth-generation mechs are too clumsy; only the light, agile sixth-generation mechs can be quickly deployed to the battlefield.'"

General Huo replies: "The problem is, being too light means they can't take a hit—one slap and they're flattened."

Translation: "General Huo replied: 'The problem is, being too light means they can't take a hit—one slap and they're flattened!'"

Ma Sheng Erlang heard this, his face turned as if he had eaten a fly.

The Black General heard this, his face also looking somewhat unpleasant, and he said to the people nearby: "Tell the driver over there to be more alert."

After the call ended, the Japanese side acted first, countless warplanes took off from their bases and quickly arrived at the foot of Mount Fuji, directing various firepower at the two monsters.

Moreover, there were helicopters, drones, and machine dogs armed with firepower, covering the sky and earth.

Especially the agile, fiercely armed machine dogs left the indoor audience stunned, shouting "Holy shit!"

"These little Japanese, they actually hid this much firepower?"

"These machine dogs are awesome! If future battlefields all use this stuff, how will human soldiers fight?"

"If Japan has these, China should have even more and more advanced ones, right?"

(End of chapter)