Chapter 798: New Discoveries on Mars

Onslaught did not rush to take the Core from Starscream's hand.

Swindle had originally been one of his Combaticons, even though that guy's personality was naturally annoying.

However, this subordinate of his had been thoroughly screwed over by Starscream back in the day.

Swindle had been tricked by Starscream into joining the faction rebelling against Megatron; he rebelled against Megatron twice, and the first time, he was suppressed by Megatron's orders, arrested, and thrown into Kuloubao Jianyu to suffer torture.

Later, Swindle was rescued by Starscream and participated in the second military mutiny against Megatron that he had initiated.

After it failed, although Starscream also received some punishment, compared to Swindle, it could hardly be called a punishment at all.

Swindle, having rebelled against Megatron again, was ordered by the furious Tyrant during the subsequent purge to be executed with the extreme penalty created by the former Council of Ancients—Shadowplay and Five Punishments.

Shadowplay and Five Punishments meant cutting off his arms, legs, and head, and then, through various drugs and torture, cruelly twisting Swindle's personality.

Shockwave had been a victim of this torture; a scholar and great Scientist who was dedicated to justice and fairness, he had been tortured by the nobles into his current state, which shows the terror of Shadowplay and Five Punishments.

According to Onslaught's understanding, not only was Swindle executed, but he was also sent to Starscream to be made into a re-imprinted Warrior who fought to the death for the Decepticon Legion; it was a tragedy through and through.

However, Swindle's miserable end would only make Onslaught more wary of Starscream; he would not feel a shred of sympathy for Swindle.

Because it was precisely Swindle's rebellion back then that implicated the entire Combaticons, leading to the Combaticons suffering various overt and covert suppressions within the Decepticon Legion later on.

The Combaticons were eventually wiped out in a military operation; except for Onslaught, who managed to escape by virtue of his great strength, his other three team members all died at the hands of the Autobots.

Staring fixedly at the Core in Starscream's hand, Onslaught's mind raced.

If it were Swindle's original Core, then he would only need to change the original natural gestation method, first manufacture a New Body, and then place the Swindle Core into the new body; it was indeed possible to have this former Combaticon member return within a month.

However, Starscream had definitely tampered with this Core.

In other words, if he accepted this Core, unless he could find and clear out some of Starscream's arrangements, it would be hard to say whether a nail had been buried in his new Combaticons from the very moment of their birth.

Starscream did not urge him, just spread his hands quietly, a malicious smile on his face.

"I believe that even if I said I hadn't tampered with this Core at all, you wouldn't believe me."

His words were met only with a light snort from Onslaught; after all, Starscream's reputation within the Decepticon Legion was truly foul.

Starscream was not angry; instead, his face was full of pride.

He extended two fingers, sharp as blades, and said softly, "Let me tell you two more pieces of news; this is also the reason why I am in such a hurry."

This piqued Onslaught's interest somewhat, but he did not respond, waiting for Starscream to continue.

"The first piece of news: Sentinel Prime is still alive, and he is on Earth."

As soon as these words were spoken, a bit of murderous intent appeared on Onslaught's face.

"Sentinel Prime!" he murmured, one hand involuntarily reaching toward his own neck.

The great Leader Sentinel Prime, the previous Leader of the Autobots.

The reason why Onslaught and his Combaticons had suffered a crushing defeat in a military operation despite following the plan he had formulated was precisely because they had encountered Sentinel Prime and his personal guard.

In that battle, although he had managed to escape, his neck had almost been severed by Sentinel Prime's blade.

Over a hundred years ago, when he heard that Sentinel Prime had personally led a team to transport supplies and had been surrounded and killed by Decepticons, Onslaught had even laughed heartily about it.

Never did he expect to hear news of Sentinel Prime again, over a hundred years later, here in the distant Solar System.

Onslaught suppressed the killing intent in his heart and asked in a low voice, "Why is Sentinel Prime still alive? And how could he be on Earth?"

"Perhaps Megatron knows!"

Starscream smiled and blocked his question; the matter of Sentinel Prime was too significant, involving one of Megatron's schemes.

Within the Decepticon Legion, perhaps only Megatron himself and Shockwave knew exactly what kind of cooperation Sentinel Prime had reached with Megatron.

Even Starscream could only rely on guessing to barely figure out some things.

But he clearly would not easily tell Onslaught the precious intelligence he had worked so hard to obtain.

Onslaught could do nothing about this; he snorted heavily and tacitly stopped asking.

So Starscream continued with his second piece of news, "The second piece of news: I sent over seven hundred re-imprinted Warriors to attack a base of Frenzy's that was out in the open, and they were all wiped out."

Onslaught narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Starscream also looked at him with a smile. "Don't underestimate that little guy. According to the intelligence I've collected, his current combat power is not much worse than yours or mine. Moreover, he has established his own force and has already gained a foothold on Earth! Not the kind of sneaky way the Autobots do it."

Starscream admired Frenzy; he was a conspirator like himself, with the same ambitions, and he held the order and rules established by Megatron in contempt.

For a time, he had even had the thought of truly taking the other party under his command.

Even if the other party had his own hidden agenda like Barricade, it wouldn't matter.

But later, this thought was extinguished by Starscream himself.

Although he hadn't had much contact with Frenzy, only a few brief collaborations.

But the personality and ambition of some people can be felt even after just one or two encounters.

At the very least, Starscream had long been very clear that he and Frenzy were the same kind of Decepticon, so they would never be on the same path.

Onslaught frowned; he felt he was starting to dislike Starscream even more.

This guy always said only half of what he meant, and sometimes he just started a topic.

"So!" Onslaught still hadn't figured out Starscream's meaning and could only continue to press him.

Starscream threw Swindle's Core toward him, and Onslaught subconsciously reached out and caught it.

"Swindle's consciousness once awakened and even defected to Frenzy, but just a short while ago, the control method I left in his Core was triggered, which means he is dead."

Onslaught looked at the original Swindle Core in his palm, wishing he could clench his fist and crush it.

"So what exactly are you trying to express with this news?"

"I don't know what happened to Frenzy to allow him to transform into his current state in just over two years after being awakened by Soundwave. So, don't you intend to go see him and figure out the reason behind this?"

"The times have changed; at least seven of the legendary Thirteen Primes of Cybertron came to Earth a long time ago. I suspect this planet must be hiding some secret?"

"Perhaps that secret can allow us to transform rapidly, surpass the Leader, and even reach the level of the legendary Thirteen Primes!"

"Aren't you curious about all this?"

"Shockwave will be here soon!"

Starscream admitted that he had once again been swayed by Starscream's words.

Gripping the original Core of Swindle in his hand, he waited a long while before impatiently waving a hand at Starscream, "Go back. I will let you see the Combaticons within a month, provided that you haven't tampered with this Core!"

Answering him was a smile from Starscream.

Just as it always was: sinister, cunning, and vicious.

……

Thanks to book friend "WF Wufeng" for the generous tip and support, thank you very much.

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