133: Prelude to the War

Six months later.

The first large Space-Time Bridge successfully landed on Mars.

Although Mars is an uninhabited planet in the solar system, its resource minerals are extremely rich. Just a few months of mining provided Blue Star with nearly 30% of its basic material needs.

The Moon Base was fully completed.

Space warships continuously ascended like dumplings dropping into a pot.

Although these warships were not as large as the Hai Star fleet's vessels, their internal weapon systems were all highly targeted.

The Vacuum Polarization Reflective Layer System could effectively withstand the main cannon bombardments of Hai Star's three main battleships.

Each warship was equipped with a small elemental cannon and manned by five hundred intermediate Elementalists.

One year later.

Three large Space-Time Bridges officially landed on three uninhabited planets near the solar system.

Although the combined resources of these three uninhabited planets were less than one-tenth of Beastman Star's, the advantage was their controllable and sustainable nature.

The surface environment was harsh and completely unsuitable for human habitation, but this did not affect the normal operation of intelligent robots. A continuous stream of minerals was transported to Blue Star via the large Space-Time Bridges.

After several months of final preparations, the dawn before the decisive battle finally arrived.

Time remaining until the Hai Star fleet descends upon Blue Star: 30 days.

Special Disaster Response War Zone.

The sky was overcast with dark clouds.

Occasionally, a thunderous roar echoed.

A light rain fell, sprinkling on Drill Ground Number One.

Twenty thousand of Dragon Country's most elite cultivators stood in a solemn, uniform formation, facing the central rostrum.

Commander Fang Wanli, Deputy Commander Qin Weiguo, and a host of high-ranking generals with stars on their shoulders sat solemnly, their gazes like torches fixed on the warriors below.

After more than four years of military life, these twenty thousand warriors had long shed their youthful innocence. Their postures were as straight as pines, and their eyes as sharp as blades.

An invisible aura gathered, causing the air above the square to distort.

Among them, five thousand elites had a life index of 30,000 points.

Those above 40,000: two hundred and one people.

The life index of everyone else was above 20,000 points.

Today, they gathered here to carry out a mission destined to be recorded in human history, yet also destined to be a one-way trip.

They were to ambush the Hai Star fleet during the final leg of its journey before reaching the solar system.

Everyone knew this was akin to throwing an egg against a rock.

Commander Fang Wanli stepped forward to deliver a speech and announced that two thousand people would be randomly selected by lottery to carry out the A-5 Asteroid Belt ambush mission.

Within the ranks, some looked excited, while others bowed their heads in thought.

"Selected warriors, please confirm immediately via your terminals," Fang Wanli's powerful voice echoed through the square.

"You have one hour to prepare. Dismissed."

Within the ranks, Wang Zhen felt a slight vibration from the terminal on his wrist.

He quietly raised his wrist, and a message appeared.

"[Wang Zhen, Code B-8709, Mission Confirmation: Yes / No]"

Wang Zhen subconsciously looked at his elder brother beside him, then let out a long sigh of relief.

"Brother."

When Wang Xuecheng saw the message on his younger brother's wrist terminal, his eyes widened, and his heart pounded uncontrollably.

He grabbed his brother's wrist and pulled him to an empty corner.

"I'm going to find the officer now. My life index is higher than yours, so I'm more suitable for this mission."

"Brother!"

Wang Zhen shook off his brother's hand, his face turning pale, his lips trembling uncontrollably.

"Brother, do you remember when we were little? Back then... every time I got into trouble, you would take the blame for me and get whipped by Dad."

"This time, let me do it myself."

Wang Zhen looked down at the terminal, his eyes suddenly blurring, but he still firmly clicked "Yes" on the option.

Wang Xuecheng grabbed his brother's shoulders, holding on very tightly.

"Brother, take good care of Mom and Dad. I'm going to fight aliens this time, I'm a hero."

"It's something that will earn a separate page in our Wang family genealogy in Tian Tun Village. We should be happy."

Wang Zhen found a quiet corner and called his mother.

When the call connected, his mother was watering flowers on the balcony.

"Why do you have time to call? Is the army off today?"

"Mom, I've been selected for a special interstellar training mission. I'm going to train on an alien planet!"

"How long will you be gone?"

Wang Zhen: "Probably a year."

"Because it's closed training, I won't be able to contact you during that time, but the benefits are really good, over ten million."

Wang Zhen's mother, hearing it was for a year, her eyes had already turned red.

News of the alien invasion had been broadcast daily on TV recently, with a new preview every day.

Last night, when she watched the news, there were only thirty-one days left.

Now her son said he was going for a year of alien training; he was clearly lying.

But she didn't expose the lie, covering her mouth, forcing herself to control her emotions, and softly replied, "Is it dangerous?"

"No danger, Mom. Brother is staying at the base. If anything happens, just find him."

After hanging up the phone, Wang Zhen returned to his dorm, got his phone, and transferred all 1.3 million from his two bank cards to his brother's bank account.

"Brother, Mom and Dad are in your care."

Wang Xuecheng wiped away a tear, then pulled his brother into a tight embrace.

This parting would be an eternal separation.

In a corner of the shooting range, Li Gui pulled out a crumpled cigarette pack from his pocket, took out a cigarette, and pulled out his lighter. It took him four or five tries to finally light the cigarette.

He took a deep drag and exhaled a large puff of smoke.

At this moment, he was in a fierce internal struggle.

Trading his life for his family's lifelong prosperity was worth it.

But every time he thought of his wife's face, and his two children who hadn't started school yet, Li Gui felt a torment like a knife twisting in his heart.

But at this moment, he didn't have the courage to face his wife and children. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist the impulse to become a deserter.

Only after finishing the entire cigarette did Li Gui pull out his phone and start recording himself.

"Wife, I'm scared..."

"I don't want to die. I still want to watch our babies grow up."

"But this time, I have to go."

At this point, Li Gui was already sobbing uncontrollably.

"After I'm gone, find a good man and marry him."

"I'll leave all the money to you. I hope you can take good care of the children, and also our parents."

Not far away.

A young warrior, twenty-four or twenty-five years old, perhaps inspired, also began to record his last words on his phone.

"Mom, by the time you see this video, I might already have..."

His words got stuck halfway. He silently wiped away his tears and chose to re-record.

"Mom, I might be going on a long trip. You must take good care of yourself..."

He recorded and deleted, deleted and recorded, but he still couldn't record everything he wanted to say.

Even when the assembly bell rang, he still couldn't fully express what was in his heart.

After uploading the most complete video to his email, he wiped away his tears with his arm, straightened his clothes, and sped towards the assembly point.