168: Chapter 169 Psionic Energy Endures, The Second Battle of the Ruins Begins

[Intruders detected. Activate sentinel units?]

[Intruders detected. Activate sentinel units?]

In the pitch-black, all-metal room, only one holographic projection device was lit.

The holographic image, composed of pale blue light, displayed the Wailing Mountains.

The image flickered as a group of people rapidly entered the projection's range.

The light instantly shifted from blue to red, accompanied by high-frequency flashing.

Suddenly, two more light sources lit up in the darkness; it was the glow from the activation of cryo-pods.

Pale blue liquid was slowly pushed into the interior by the hydraulic devices at both ends of the cryo-pods.

A ring of blue light gradually lit up along the outer edge of the oval hatch above.

Hiss—

After the blue light rotated around the perimeter and connected, the airtight hatch opened, and a burst of thick white gas flowed out from the gap.

[Intruders detected. Activate sentinel units?]

[Intruders detected. Activate sentinel units?]

Alarms flashed, and a heavy mechanical voice echoed repeatedly in the room.

The thick white mist gradually dissipated, revealing two humanoid creatures wearing form-fitting metal combat suits.

Their body structures were basically identical to humans, possessing limbs and heads of appropriate size.

Their heads were diamond-shaped, wearing helmets synthesized from Materials similar to the Gray Rock Clan's crystal shells, with a diamond-shaped device on the top of the helmet.

Their limbs were entirely wrapped in a type of form-fitting armor; the Materials seemed liquid-like, tightly integrated with their muscle lines, looking as if they were wearing bodysuits.

Awakened by the shrill alarm, the two humanoid creatures did not show any surprise.

It was as if, in their long slumber, this was the most ordinary occurrence.

The two rose from their cryo-pods, walking toward the holographic projection while unplugging various nutrient delivery tubes connected to their backs.

One humanoid creature walked under the holographic projection and waved its hand, summoning a holographic control keyboard.

The other, seemingly of higher Rank, walked straight to the machine facing the holographic projection to examine the data.

Under the humanoid creature's operation, the perspective within the holographic image in the room began to switch constantly, presenting the intruders' projection from various angles.

"What is it this time?" the higher-ranked creature asked without even lifting its head.

"Lost Abyssal Stone Men or that group of Lava Lizards?"

"Navigator, this time it seems to be..." the humanoid soldier kept switching the holographic projection, facial expression gradually becoming puzzled, "It seems to be the Blue Star Human Race."

"Human Race? That low-level carbon-based species? Is this some newly conceived joke?"

"No, Navigator, this physical form is indeed the Blue Star Human Race, and it's not an accidental intrusion; they have a whole army."

The humanoid operator zoomed in on the holographic projection, extracting the creatures in the riding state charging at the very front.

The humanoid creature referred to as the Navigator raised its head, took a brief look, and then called up data to compare.

"It is indeed the Blue Star Human Race. How can they withstand the storm?"

The operator continued to zoom in on the holographic projection, and after a scanning beam swept across the image, a data panel unfolded to the side.

[Steel Battle Armor, plastic shield, steam-fuel hybrid power]

"This is Human Race technology? They can make a chunk of scrap steel move using fuel and steam?"

The Navigator had no facial expression, but his tone revealed his surprise.

He quickly displayed information regarding the Blue Star Human Race on the side.

In the two verifiable low-Rank Forbidden Land trials, their technology tree had never featured battle armor.

[Intruders detected. Activate sentinel units?]

[Intruders detected. Activate sentinel units?]

Red light flashed, and the mechanical voice rang out once again.

"Navigator, shall we activate the sentinels? They have already crossed the warning line."

"Wake the dogs up. Those guys haven't eaten in decades. How many are left?"

"305, Navigator. They are all Rank 10 Titanium Crystal Stinger Bugs with top-tier killing capabilities."

"That should be enough to deal with this strange Human Race." The Navigator took several transparent cables from the mechanical console and inserted them into his helmet.

"I will upload the information to the Observer. You have full command of the battle."

"Ensure these low-level creatures pay the price for their foolish actions."

"Psionic Eternal."

"Psionic Eternal!"

...

Whoosh—

Wind, gale, endless gale.

The troops had already entered the depths of the Wailing Mountains; the terrain rose steeply, and the gale became increasingly fierce.

The Scout units, with lower armor values exposed to the storm, had already suffered 20% wear on their armor across the board.

For the Scout units, this was unprecedented damage.

Although the damage was alarming, as scouting units, they had to travel at the forefront of the formation.

The terrain in the mountain area was extremely complex; they had to Scout out the most suitable path for General Meng Tian to pave the way.

The sand and stones filling the sky reduced visibility to an extremely low level, while the howling gale rendered sonar detection completely useless.

The storm forced the Scout units back to a primitive era, where they could almost only rely on the naked eye to Scout the path.

Hiss—

Suddenly, a very short mechanical sound rang out.

Blue light flickered on the cliff wall beside the Scout; the originally solid rock vanished, and a massive cave entrance appeared.

Rustle, rustle, rustle—

The sharp, screeching cry unique to the Insect Swarm rang out.

"Enemies! Enemies on the right!!"

The message reached Su Yang's mind, and he quickly switched his perspective.

He saw the Scout units on the right rapidly retreating, and following behind them was a large swarm of the Gray Rock Clan's Insect Swarm.

Insect Swarm? The ruins' guardians of the Wailing Mountains, or the Insect Swarm?

Su Yang was somewhat surprised; he had expected to encounter new Xenomorph units.

But it was fine if it was the Insect Swarm; at least he had plenty of experience dealing with these old friends.

"Encountered the Insect Swarm on the right. Pull the troops toward the center and prepare for battle!"

The storm blocked the transmission of sound, so Su Yang transmitted the information to everyone directly through his consciousness.

Upon receiving the command, General Meng Tian, at the very front of the formation, led the Scout units back.

General Li Xin halted the main force, having all units disembark from the black iron chariots to prepare for battle.

They weren't given much time; the Insect Swarm swarmed over.

Even with the storm obscuring the view, one could still see the Insect Swarm surging down from the hillside like a tidal wave.

The Scouts' detectors had failed, unable to Scout the specific number of the Insect Swarm, but by estimation, it definitely wouldn't exceed the previous encounter.

If there were only this many, why would the divination show "Regret"?

Hum—

Two Magnetic Storm Bombs exploded in the center of the Insect Swarm, and the electromagnetic storm rapidly spread within the gale.

The Second Ruins War begins!