A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 177: Arriving At The Frontline
Chapter 177: Arriving At The Frontline

”Sir, isn’t the timing of the insectoid wave unpredictable? What if we can’t compete when it happens?” Drexel, concerned about losing his shot at the ten billion astrocredits, asked urgently.

Sykes’ smile faded a bit, but he kept his calm. ”Don’t worry. We can predict the insectoid wave now.”

Drexel didn’t understand how, but he didn’t push further since the competition was still on.

They moved on to discuss roles.

Zephyr, though quiet, had sharp command skills and would lead, handling long-range attacks with his unmatched marksmanship.

Cirilla, Drexel, Elio, and Varden were the main attackers, ready to fight head-on.

Arix was both a main attacker and support, versatile enough to fill any role as needed.

With positions settled, Sykes dismissed them to rest and prepare for the battle ahead.

Once the young competitors left, Sykes revealed a hidden screen. Throughout the discussion, a group had been watching their every move.

Those are the

”Admiral Thaddeus, and the four Vice Admirals—are you satisfied with these kids?” Sykes asked, his eyes slightly red as he addressed the five vice admirals on the screen.

Thaddeus smiled proudly, ”Of course we are. They are our future successors.”

Sylis, Cirilla’s father, added with a smile, ”Sir, we don’t know if we can come back, so please take care of the kids.”

”Sylis, don’t say that ever again, or I’ll beat you up when we meet,” Sykes said, half-jokingly. ”Remember, you all will come back. We’re just stopping the insectoid queen’s birth. Even if the surprise attack fails, the level-eight mecha will bring you back, right?”

The five mysterious figures behind the vice admirals nodded slightly. Their powerful presence was palpable, even through the screen.

Thaddeus remained silent, sharing the same hope as Sykes.

Their plan for the raid was named ”Mission: Deicide.”

The objective of this mission was to destroy the energy fruit. That fruit was critical for the birth of the new insectoid queen.

Destroying this fruit would delay the queen’s birth by at least ten years, granting the Alliance and the entire universe a decade of peace.

To pull off this mission, not just the Alliance but countries far and wide had sent at least one Vice Admiral-level mecha pilot.

This elite team of Vice Admirals, over a thousand strong, was set to face at least one hundred thousand insectoids of the same caliber.

On top of that, there were billions of other insectoids of varying levels to contend with.

Success or failure, their chances of returning alive were slim. If they succeeded, they would be swarmed and likely killed by countless insectoids. If they failed, they would face the same grim fate.

Fortunately, the Alliance had level-eight mechas. Those incredibly powerful machines could significantly boost the survival chances of the Alliance’s Vice Admirals.

...

Thaddeus glanced at the level-eight mecha standing next to him. This mecha was barely half a meter tall.

If Arix were here, she’d probably gasp. Their legendary level-eight mecha turned out to be just the campus butler, PO.

”Shadow Blade, it’s all yours,” Thaddeus said with a smile.

PO shot Thaddeus a cold look, the expression on his screen looking slightly annoyed. ”Shadow Blade, a name for fighting and killing, doesn’t suit someone as cute as me. Admiral Thaddeus, please call me PO, thank you.”

Thaddeus chuckled. ”Alright, PO.”

PO glanced at him once more, then nodded in satisfaction.

Sykes watched Thaddeus interact with their level-eight mechas, a smile in his eyes. He solemnly reminded them of a few things before saluting. ”I won’t take up more of your time. Good luck and come back safe.”

The five Vice Admirals returned the salute and nodded to each other. They ended the video call and set off on their mission.

Sykes looked at the now dark screen. He put away his opticomputer and leaned back in his chair. Then he closed his eyes in silence, muttering, ”Everyone, come back safely...”

Meanwhile, Arix and her team were in the battleship’s cafeteria, eating and chatting about the insectoid wave.

”Elio, when did the Second Legion figure out how to predict the insectoid wave’s timing?” Drexel asked curiously.

”I have no clue. Maybe I should ask later,” Elio replied, looking puzzled.

”Better not. If they have a method, it’s probably a military secret. They wouldn’t tell us anyway,” Drexel said, feeling relaxed.

”True. Let’s not dwell on that. Let’s talk about the Empire’s mecha team. From what I’ve heard, things aren’t looking good,” Elio said, frowning.

Drexel, intrigued by Elio’s concern, raised an eyebrow. ”Go on.”

Elio sighed, looking serious. ”In the Empire’s mecha team, three members are purebloods. To be a pureblood, their physical or psychic power must be at Supergiant+ level. We only have you, Drexel, who can match a pureblood. So, we’re already at a disadvantage.”

Hearing this, Zephyr and the others also looked serious.

”We won’t necessarily lose. This time, it’s not about psychic or physical power. It’s about who can kill more insectoids and hold off the wave longer. If we’re lucky, maybe the insectoid wave on the Empire’s side will be even more intense,” Drexel said, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.

Even though his words sounded shameless, everyone felt oddly comforted.

Elio clasped his hands together in a gesture of blessing. ”Then let’s hope the insectoid wave on the Empire’s side is fiercer.”

Hearing this, the others laughed.

About half an hour later, Arix and her team finally arrived at Dunesphere and saw the Second Legion’s starship carrier. Once they entered the starship carrier’s safety zone, their battleship landed on the carrier’s deck under the guidance of the sentry.

As soon as Arix and her team disembarked, they quickly suited up in their mechas and followed Sykes to the competition area.

In the cockpit, Arix observed the space environment while listening to the conversation in her wireless earpiece.

As they were about to meet their opponents, Elio excitedly shouted over the channel, ”Guys, get ready for battle! Let’s defeat those Empire scum!”

”Elio, can you keep it down? You’re going to make me deaf,” Cirilla said, annoyed.

”Sorry, sorry,” Elio quickly apologized, not daring to provoke Cirilla.

”Oh, I see them. They don’t look easy to deal with, especially with their top-notch equipment,” Drexel said, eyeing the opposing mecha team enviously.

Elio, feeling irritated by Drexel’s words, took out five weapons from his Space Button and handed them to his teammates.

Arix and the others each received a top-tier weapon in their respective fields.

Arix got a sword and, upon examining it, she realized it was made of meteoric iron. She was so amazed that she almost drooled. Meteoric iron was a material naturally forged through cosmic friction.

Her teammates were equally smitten with their new weapons. Zephyr got a particle gun, Varden received a heavy sword, Cirilla got a long whip, and Drexel received a spear.

”If we win this battle, these weapons are yours,” Elio announced generously, seeing how much everyone liked them.

As soon as he finished speaking, five sounds of swallowing echoed simultaneously.

Drexel, unable to contain his excitement, hugged Elio and vowed, ”Don’t worry, Mr. Laisair, we will complete the mission!”

With their new weapons, their spirits instantly soared. They eyed the Empire’s mecha team like wolves eyeing lambs. Even their mechas’ eyes seemed to gleam with titanium light.

This creepy, intense gaze made the Empire’s mecha team feel both belittled and insulted. Their already unfriendly expressions became even more hostile, and they maliciously gave Arix and her team the middle finger.

However, in their good mood, Arix and her team saw the provocation and reacted as if they were looking at fools, their faces full of amusement.

The two mecha teams from the Empire and the Alliance glared at each other, their eyes and noses full of contempt.

At that time, the leaders from both sides were ”cordially” shaking hands and reminiscing.

”Mr. Vesryn, you arrived early. You’re so eager! I thought you’re as cold-blooded as other reptiles. Maybe you should see a doctor,” Sykes said, holding Vesryn’s hand with a falsely concerned smile.

”It’s clearly you, Lord Sykes, who arrived late. If you’d been any later, I might have thought the Alliance mecha team was too scared to show up,” Vesryn replied with a sarcastic smile.

”How could that be? If you have the guts to show up, why wouldn’t we?” Sykes retorted with a mocking smile, pretending not to understand Vesryn’s insinuations.