Chapter 84: Battle

"These are the ones, right?"

"Yes."

"Quickly tie the rope to their hands. Don't forget what that person reminded us of."

Inside the carriage, four children came in, holding ropes specially made by Nightmare.

They came to Zero and the others, tying the rope around their wrists, and the other end to their own wrists.

One of the little boys had the other two people tied to each of his hands.

"Take a deep breath, then count. That way you'll fall asleep and enter their dream. All you have to do is destroy their spiritual core…"

Afterwards, the four children sat beside them, silently counting in their hearts: one… two… three… four……

Soon, everyone connected into the dream of Zero and the others.

………

Zero and Sister Luo Li sat on the sofa, gazing at everything around them.

It all felt rather unreal.

"Zero, what are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, I just feel like something isn't quite real…"

"Alright, don't overthink it. Maybe you're just too tired. You've been carrying out missions day and night without rest this whole time. You should get some proper rest."

"Is that so… missions…"

Zero also felt that maybe it really was like that—perhaps he was just too tired, which was why he felt that it had truly been nothing more than a dream.

Just as he was about to close his eyes and rest a while longer, the smart bracelet suddenly emitted a fierce red alert.

Seeing this, Zero knew that another major incident had occurred.

He immediately stood up, tapped the smart bracelet, and a message from 【Rose】 was displayed.

【Creator, a large-scale attack by mutated species has occurred in the K2 region! The targets this time are coming on fiercely, and civilian casualties have already appeared. The garrison there is already on its way to provide support!】

"Understood, I'll head out right away!"

His gaze turned to Sister Luo Li, and he said apologetically: "Sorry, Sister Luo Li, I have to depart."

Sister Luo Li did not blame him, and slowly said: "It's fine, you go. I'll wait for you."

"Thank you."

Afterwards, Zero took a flyer back to the base and issued the order: "All forces, prepare for battle! Reinforce the K2 region!"

"Squad One, received!"

"Squad Two, received!"

"Squad Three, received!"

"Squad Four…"

Then, Zero found his adjutant and handed him a briefcase.

"Go activate 【Rusty Gong】!"

"Yes, Major General!"

The adjutant, carrying the briefcase, arrived at the center of the base and found the control console.

The screen on the control console displayed the words 【Formidable Enemy】 Incoming.

Seeing this, the adjutant performed a series of operations on the holographic projection screen of the control console.

【Rusty Gong activating… activation successful!】

Afterwards, he opened the briefcase, connected it to the control console, and launched a warship to head to the K2 region for support.

【Deploy anti-air drones】

………

Armored tanks roaring like the wind, and fighter jets streaking through the sky at the speed of sound.

Zero led the troops, driving the vehicles without a moment's rest toward the target location.

Before long, the troops arrived at the target location.

The situation here could be described as utterly devastated, too horrible to look at.

More than half of the surrounding buildings had been destroyed!

The air was filled with the stench of blood.

Most of it came from the corpses of those mutated animals.

Many of the stationed soldiers were holding their weapons, fighting desperately to hold the line and protect the civilians behind them.

The mutated species this time numbered in the tens of thousands and came on with terrifying force—calling it a beast tide would not be an exaggeration.

Even so, even though the soldiers suffered heavily, they still refused to retreat a single step!

Wielding all manner of heavy weapons, they kept on resisting tenaciously!

Seeing these scenes, Zero's heart blazed with fury. He issued orders to everyone on the channel: "Split into seven squads! Squads One, Two, and Three will follow me to wipe out these mutated species! Squads Four and Five will clear the mutated species that have entered the city! Squads Six and Seven will evacuate the civilians and treat the wounded!"

"YES!!!"

Afterwards, Zero controlled the armored tank, activated all weapon systems, and crushed his way through.

The armored tank's firepower poured out, and the wide-area saturation fire crushed every charging mutated species into dust!

Wherever it passed, blood flowed like a river!

The corpses of mutated species piled up into mountains!

The fighter jets in the sky, along with the deployed anti-air drones, eliminated those flying mutated beasts, providing aerial fire support!

In an instant, sparks flew across the battlefield and smoke filled the air.

The deafening roar of artillery shook the heavens.

From time to time, it was accompanied by the unwilling roars of the mutated species!

Roar!!!

Just then, a mechanical roar that pierced the heavens descended!

Amid the beast tide, a mechanical giant beast with a height of thirty to forty meters and a body length of a hundred meters dropped from midair, descending among the mutated species!

After the mechanical giant beast landed, it kicked up a cloud of blood-red dust and a violent tremor!

The ground spread outward in all directions like a spider web.

Beneath its four feet, there were still many mutated species crushed into pulp.

Artificial mechanical giant beast—Xiu Zheng!

A divine beast from mythology.

A head resembling both dragon and tiger, razor-sharp mechanical claws, a pair of mechanical wings on its back, and a massive mechanical tail swaying idly behind it!

"Xiu Zheng, destroy them!!!"

Roar!!!

After receiving the order, Xiu Zheng began to slaughter madly!

The ground was filled with the stench of blood!

That stench of blood likewise stimulated the mutated species, making their eyes blood-red, their wild nature surging, and growing even more frenzied!

Even so, the troops led by Zero continued to hold their ground and resist, not letting a single mutated species advance even half a step!

"Adjutant, activate the Sky Net's laser system, lock onto target—K2 district!"

Zero issued the order to the adjutant through his smart bracelet.

"Yes, Major General!"

Afterward, the adjutant operated the briefcase, connecting to the Sky Net in outer space above Blue-White Star, and activated the laser!

In outer space above Blue-White Star, a Sky Net resembling a giant mobile fortress began to deform at its base, deploying the laser emission port.

【Laser system activating…】

【Activation successful】

【Energy charging… energy charged successfully】

【Target: K2 district】

【Launch countdown: 10…9…8…7……】

Boom!

In the sky, piercing through layers of clouds, one could see a red energy gathering; even from a great distance, one could feel the terrifying energy within!

【Laser fired】

Whoosh!

The red energy pillar launched from space, pouring down!

Using the laser itself as the center point, it moved bit by bit, its tremendous power destroying everything around it!

The mutated species struck by the laser were instantly burned to ashes by the high-temperature energy, vanishing into dust without a trace!

The laser lasted only seven seconds before ending, and everything returned to normal.

But, on the ground not far away, there was still a deep chasm, radiating red high temperature.

As if left behind by a volcanic eruption, it proved what had just happened.

After that energy attack just now, the mutated species were nearly wiped out; the remainder were all annihilated by the troops led by Zero!

………

After a day of fighting, the battle in K2 district was declared concluded for the time being.

While tending to the wounded, a soldier ran over from not far away, holding a little girl in his arms.

"Reporting, Major General. Just now during patrol, we discovered this little girl in the ruins, but—she is not one of our Huaxia people!"

"Not Huaxia?"

Zero was somewhat puzzled and took the little girl into his arms.

The little girl's face was covered in dust, her whole body muddy.

Her forehead had also suffered some injuries, with a trace of blood seeping out.

But one could still make out her clothing—a yellow kimono-style dress with some floral patterns.

A head of long black hair hung loosely, and on her feet she wore one wooden clog, while the other wooden clog was nowhere to be found?

"A Neon Country person?! Why would she appear here?!" Zero wondered to himself.

"This little girl will be handed over to me first. I'll take her back and clean her up, then interrogate her later."

"Yes, Major General!"

Afterward, Zero carried the little girl to the armored vehicle, placed her in the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and brought her back to the Luo Family Manor.

………

"Is this his dream? What a strange place?!"

A little girl in yellow entered Zero's dream, looking at everything around her, somewhat bewildered.

All around were skyscrapers she had never seen before, as well as countless houses floating in midair.

And vehicles flying about everywhere.

Woooo!!!!

Just as she stood there at a loss, an alarm suddenly blared from the city center!

【Alarm! Alarm! Danger!】

The sudden alarm struck straight at people's hearts, and all the pedestrians on the streets began to panic and run back!

The little girl in yellow was knocked to the ground by a passerby. At a loss, she scrambled up, shielding her head with her hands, and began running for her life!

Yet the next scene would be one she could never forget for the rest of her life!

In midair, many flying strange beasts swooped into the city, hunting humans everywhere and devouring them!

Not far off, a number of fully armed warriors, weapons in hand, fought to the death and opened fire on the beast horde ahead!

"Wh-what-what on earth… what kind of monsters are these?! Why is this person's dream so strange?! So scary…"

The little girl in yellow racked her brains but couldn't make sense of it, completely forgetting the task the Nightmare Dream had given her.

Right now, she only wanted to find somewhere to hide.

Those monsters were simply too terrifying!

Especially the sight of those people being eaten—it filled her with dread.

Those bloody scenes made her feel like she was going to throw up!

Boom!

Mutated species charged into the city, destroying the surrounding buildings. The little girl in yellow, caught off guard, tumbled to the ground!

Ignoring the pain, she scrambled up and kept fleeing for her life!

She reached a relatively safe corner and hid there.

Her heart was filled with an immeasurable fear…

Her breathing was rapid, and her pounding heart felt as if it were stuck in her throat, ready to leap out at any moment!

But just when she thought she could escape this disaster, the shockwave from an explosion reached her spot and knocked her out!

Still, she was at least somewhat lucky—an advertising billboard happened to fall and block the area above, and combined with the corner she was hiding in, it formed a safe zone.

It saved her from being crushed to death…

She didn't know how long she had been unconscious. When the little girl in yellow opened her eyes, she found herself lying in a spacious room.

Everything around her was arranged in ways she had never seen before.

A soft, comfortable big bed, a balcony with transparent glass, and a strange, pleasant fragrance wafting through the room.

"You're awake."

The sudden voice startled the little girl in yellow. She turned her head and saw a white-haired boy standing beside the bed.

This boy was the master of the dream.

"How do you feel? Is there anywhere you're uncomfortable?" Zero asked.

The little girl in yellow was a little scared and didn't dare speak, mainly because she couldn't understand what he was saying.

"A language barrier?" Zero thought. He then activated the 【Analysis Glasses】 and switched on the translation function.

"What's your name?"

This time, the little girl in yellow understood. In a weak voice, she answered, "Suizi."

"Suizi, why did you appear in the K2 district? And why are you carrying this on you?"

Zero took out an awl.

When Suizi had been carried back, he had asked Bai Yun to help clean her wounds, give her a bath, and change her into a clean set of clothes.

It was while Bai Yun was tending to her that the awl was discovered.

Seeing that awl, Suizi hurriedly checked her clothes, only to find that the clothes she had been wearing had been changed.

She looked up at Zero, her face full of terror.

"Don't worry, my little sister changed your clothes for you. You still haven't answered my question—why were you carrying this awl on you?"

Zero was puzzled. A little girl out and about, yet carrying a long, sharp awl on her!

If it were for self-defense, that would be understandable, more or less.

But this was still far too dangerous.

However, the little girl named Suizi was not a Huaxia person, but a Neon person!

So it definitely wasn't that simple!

"I…I…I…"

Suizi stammered, not knowing how to answer.

Seeing this, Zero dragged over a chair, sat down, and just watched her quietly.

Suizi was terrified inside. Sitting on the bed, she clutched the blanket tightly and didn't dare speak.

"I'm…I'm sorry…I…I…" As she spoke, Suizi burst into tears.

"I really don't know what to do…I…I just want to see my family again…*sniff*…"

Pressured by Zero, Suizi could only tell the whole story from beginning to end.

After hearing her out, Zero finally understood why things had felt so off!

While Suizi was in her comatose phase, Zero recalled something—something T0 (Xiao Bai Yue) had once said.

She had said that before creating T0, she had lived for eleven centuries.

After creating T0, T0 had accompanied her for twelve centuries, after which she had slept for another two centuries.

But the current year was 4333, a time when T0 hadn't even been created yet!

More importantly, Sister Luo Li would never call him 【Zero】!

Because the name 【Zero】 was merely a code name he had given himself in the other world!

The only person who knew was Xiao Bai Yue!

That was why Zero felt that all of this seemed like a dream yet wasn't.

So it turned out this was all caused by an evil ghost!

After getting the gist of the situation, Zero calmed himself down and continued asking, "Do you know how to wake up from this dream?"

"I..."