For a fleeting moment, Gongsun Qing was stunned.
The opponent wielded her sword with wide, sweeping movements and an imposing aura, clearly a decisive and resolute type, but she never expected her to run away with such decisiveness too.
Up until this point, the future Miss Sword Saint had indeed been weathering the storm with overwhelming strength, but her practical combat experience was, in the end, a little lacking.
After half a second of silence, she casually struck down another Blue Faction shock trooper who was trying to ambush her, before finally giving chase.
Her body was petite; even when encased in the power armor (disguised as an Emblem Machine), she always felt more than a size smaller than her opponents around her.
Yet, despite this, her strides were still astonishingly large, as if she were leaping with every step.
In the eyes of the Hong Fang (Red Team) soldiers, that ferocious aura seemed to have materialized into a tangible killing intent, like a fierce beast sprinting to hunt.
Kou Shan and his companions, who had already broken through the alley entrance, cheered again as they watched the retreating figure of their (nominal) shock troop captain.
However, amidst the cheers, Kou Shan felt something was amiss and began calling Yu Lian: “Captain, something… might be strange with the young lady.”
Yu Lian, who had also led everyone to the passage entrance and witnessed this scene, did not respond: “It’s not ‘might be strange,’ it’s ‘definitely strange.’”
“Then, we should tell her…”
“Forget it, it’s just a combat exercise anyway.
It’s better to learn some lessons in an exercise where no real blood will be shed than on a battlefield where blood will be shed,” Yu Lian said.
Besides, when a “Duel Expert” truly initiates a “Breaking Army Charge,” she can’t be stopped even if you shout.
Let her learn the rhythm of freely controlling it herself.
Gongsun Qing had indeed activated “Breaking Army Charge,” a “common” spiritual energy combat technique belonging to martial arts-oriented transcendents.
As the name suggests, once initiated, it can literally break an army.
In fact, along this short path, many enemies, both Blue Faction crew members and auxiliary combat robots, tried to block her, but they couldn’t even slightly slow down her pace.
Gongsun Qing quickly closed the distance with Meng Jiao, visually confirmed the range, and prepared to unleash a sword qi strike at his back.
However, at the very instant she was about to exert her strength, she recalled the teachings of her distant granduncle, her current nominal grandfather, and her spiritual energy and swordsmanship master.
“Listen well, Xiao Qing, whether it’s getting stabbed in the back or striking from the back, both are a disgrace to a sword wielder!
Those of Gongsun Family who wield the spiritual sword must have their own pride!”
Gongsun Qing always felt there was something off about these words, but she was influenced nonetheless and hesitated for a moment.
She suddenly felt that simply crushing the opponent all the way to the enemy’s bridge seemed like a good idea too.
However, in that instant, her body, encased in the power armor, suddenly sank.
No matter how petite Gongsun Qing was, wearing power armor made her over two meters tall, but in less than a second, the part of her remaining on the ground was only a few tens of centimeters.
Meng Jiao heard the commotion behind him, stopped, and turned back, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
The floor of the internal passage behind him had already been turned into a trap, and after Meng Jiao passed through, Autumn Mountain Yawata, who was operating it remotely, quickly pulled away the trap’s support.
Caught off guard, Gongsun Qing’s body rapidly dropped into the pit.
After a few seconds of confusion, she quickly understood her predicament and hastily reached out to grab the edge of the pit, trying to fly out.
Her sword had already flown to the side, but Gongsun Qing did not feel she was about to lose.
However, as soon as she moved her limbs, she felt a sticky, wet liquid on her hands, instantly giving her goosebumps.
Just then, a cold chill emanated, and the viscous liquid in the pit instantly solidified.
Gongsun Qing suddenly felt as if she were embedded in a reinforced concrete structure, unable to break free, and for a moment, even breathing became difficult.
These viscous liquids were actually a type of strong adhesive for space use, capable of bonding steel, alloys, and even crystalline fibers.
They would quickly solidify upon encountering low temperatures, possessing extreme strength, toughness, and temperature resistance, even capable of resisting cosmic ray erosion.
In short, whether in engineering or military applications, this space adhesive was an indispensable necessity.
It was one of the few sci-fi products in this world—a world where the technology tree had branched off, reaching the space age through archaeological digs and dabbling in mysticism—that had been developed entirely through technological research.
Gongsun Qing was completely locked in place by the solidified adhesive, unable to move.
After all, this stuff could repair holes in a warship’s armor, so its strength was imaginable.
The future Miss Sword Saint, who could cleave a warship with one sword, might not bat an eye at such a trap, but the current her was, after all, not yet a Sword Saint.
Meng Jiao cautiously peeked into the pit at his opponent, confirmed that she was truly unable to escape, and then let out a huge sigh of relief.
He was about to say a few polite words when he saw two combat robots crawling along the passage wall, unleashing a barrage of gunfire into the pit at Gongsun Qing, followed by at least twenty grenades.
If this were real combat, Gongsun Qing’s current situation would likely be unbearable to read about.
The future Miss Sword Saint, the (nominal) shock troop captain of Hong Fang (Red Team), after eliminating half of the enemy’s shock troops and spiritual energy users, finally completed her historical mission.
Meng Jiao watched with a pounding heart, unable to help but feel sympathy for the opponent.
“…There’s no need to go to this extent, is there?”
“This is war! This is war, my friend! To defeat Yu Lian, I can do anything!” Wien’s voice came through his earphone.
Meng Jiao felt that he had always thought that guy was crazy, and now he was even more certain of it.
However, before he could offer a few lines of farewell poetry for this respectable opponent, he saw Kou Shan and the others charging towards him from the opposite side.
“M-Miss!” Kou Shan was startled, then roared loudly: “Brothers, avenge the young lady!”
At this moment, the shock troopers did not become demoralized or chaotic due to losing their captain; instead, they completely descended into a frenzy simply because they had lost their mascot.
I’m not dead yet! Gongsun Qing in the pit really wanted to say that, but since the exercise directorate had already ruled her out, even her external communication was cut off.
Meng Jiao also became enraged, thinking, if I can’t deal with the young lady of Gongsun Family, can I not deal with you rabble?
He immediately drew his sword, preparing to counterattack.
Although his team was almost wiped out, and though he faced enemies ten times his number, the successor of Han Hai Sword, the warrior of the Highlander, remained fearless!
Then, Yu Lian pushed aside the crowd and appeared before Meng Jiao.
Yu Lian, the vanguard warrior of Xiwei Star Region!
Indeed, the reason I joined this exercise was for this very moment!
I am a martial artist; I must fight against different strong enemies!
To first witness the sword dance of Gongsun Family and then to fight you, how fortunate the universe spirit is to me!
The successor of Han Hai Sword let out a Highlander war roar, like the biting cold wind of the northern plateau, charging directly at Yu Lian.
Yu Lian looked at Gongsun Qing in the pit; although she was wearing an exoskeleton and a mask, making her face invisible, he could guess the girl’s expression at the moment and instantly felt like laughing a little.
Then, he held a Z17 rifle in each hand and aimed at Meng Jiao.
One was in shotgun mode, the other in rapid-fire mode.
Then, only the sounds of “bang bang bang” mixed with various “Duang” reverberated, making it impossible for Meng Jiao to advance a single step for a moment.
Han Hai Sword specialized in offense and not defense, and Yu Lian was very certain of this point.
Kou Shan, standing nearby, watched this scene, hesitated for a few seconds, and then felt a string in his mind snap.
Gritting his teeth, he also raised his gun and pulled the trigger at the enemy before him, an enemy he could never defeat, but who now appeared somewhat disheveled.
At that moment, he felt as if he had given up something, but it must not have been anything too important.
The true captain had made his move, and the other team members naturally did not stand by; they all joined the shooting.
Thus, half a minute later, Meng Jiao “died” on the spot without a single kill.
He had imagined many scenarios, such as defeating Yu Lian or the young lady of Gongsun Family after three hundred rounds, or perhaps making a single mistake and tragically “dying in battle,” but he had never imagined such an outcome.
The Highlander warrior squatted by the wall, tears welling up, letting the Hong Fang (Red Team) soldiers pass by him, completely treating himself as a corpse.
As Yu Lian passed him, he still felt a tiny bit of reluctance and added: “Han Hai Sword emphasizes offense, with an unstoppable sword momentum.
But if you want to survive on future battlefields, you still have a lot to learn.”
Meng Jiao looked up, staring blankly at Yu Lian.
“Young man, you have great potential!
Learn to… fight with me!” Yu Lian left these words and, surrounded by the Hong Fang (Red Team) crew, strode towards the Blue Monarch’s bridge.
At this moment, the Blue Faction’s shock troops were completely annihilated.
There was not a single soldier left to defend all the way to the bridge.
Though the price paid by Hong Fang (Red Team) was also heavy.
54 minutes into the exercise, Yu Lian and his companions finally entered the bridge.
Wien and his “surviving” subordinates were all assembled on the bridge, fully armed and ready, each with a loaded weapon.
If judged solely by numbers, there was still a fight to be had.
However, no one, including the Blue Faction themselves, believed they still had a chance of winning.
The sole reason was their captain, who was surrounded by the Hong Fang (Red Team).
Yu Lian was now the only spiritual energy user on these two ships.
Many even thought that he alone could probably take down all the remaining Blue Faction members.
“Shouldn’t you surrender?” Yu Lian said.
Horatio Wien, clad in an exoskeleton, gritted his teeth, his expression grim.
“Brother Wien, if you have any trump cards left, now is the time to show them.
If you can hide a third spiritual energy user so deeply, then I’ll admit defeat and fight him to the death right here.”
Horatio Wien’s grim expression suddenly melted away, replaced by a rare smile: “spiritual energy users aren’t potatoes; they’re not that easy to find!”
Yu Lian raised his eyebrows, feeling a sense of unease.
“But, since the opponent is you, we naturally have to be fully prepared!
Of course, that includes the most extreme situations… And yet, you still pushed us to this point!
You truly live up to your name, Yu Lian.” His tone carried half admiration, but more so a fervent determination.
Can you not make others sound like a demon lord?
Yu Lian wanted to let out a dry laugh, feeling a bit helpless.
“Our trump card is this…”
It wasn’t Wien who spoke, but Mihiel Rozes.
Under Yu Lian’s surprised gaze, this future Minister of Logistics, Chief of Staff, and Minister of Military Orders, one of the famous generals of the 830 Party who had never commanded a large fleet, revealed a calm expression that surprised Yu Lian, raising his hand, holding a remote switch.
Seeing everyone looking at him, Rozes still smiled gracefully and explained: “Beneath this bridge are twelve high-explosive bombs!
Enough to turn everyone here, including you, Yu Lian, into ashes.”
Yu Lian let out two dry laughs.
It’s just an exercise, why make it so tragic?
“…I say, there’s no need for this, is there? This is an exercise!”
“Yes, a combat exercise!
Since it’s combat, we’ll stop at nothing!” Wien said as a matter of course.
Yu Lian looked at the Blue Faction members; except for the few from the Lionheart Society, everyone else also looked horrified.
Clearly, to perish together with him, Wien and his group had even kept their own people in the dark.
Autumn Mountain Yawata sighed silently in the crowd, slowly inching towards Rozes.
So, are you guys serious?
“B-but this is just mutual destruction, a draw!
To bring yourselves to this state just for a draw? You’re truly something!” Zhi Xia scoffed loudly.
“…Hmm, it’s quite undignified.” Liuli nodded in agreement.
“Ladies, defeating Yu Lian is more important than any dignity!” Kent said with a helpless smile.
“Haven’t you noticed that Zhengqing and William aren’t here?” Autumn Mountain Yawata pushed up his glasses, then continued to slowly inch closer to Rozes.
Yu Lian had noticed long ago, but simply didn’t think it was important.
“They are already on standby below deck, leading our last reserve!
I’ve calculated the explosion’s power; it will only destroy the bridge and eliminate us, but it won’t destroy both ships.
Once we’re done here, Zhengqing and William will launch a charge!
Without you, without your shock troopers, how long can your remaining crew members hold out?” Kent also said with a smile.
“This is my final battle plan!
To trick you, I’ve already placed myself on the altar!” Wien shouted, filled with a martyr-like radiance.
He looked at the shocked enemies, and his equally shocked allies, then thought of Feifei watching this battle, and suddenly felt as if he had reached the pinnacle of his life.
He wanted to say something more, and looked towards Rozes, but at that moment, he also saw Autumn Mountain Yawata appear there.
When did he appear there?
Wien’s heart suddenly startled, and many thoughts flashed through his mind, his heart instantly leaping to his throat.
He looked at Yu Lian with an almost panicked gaze, but the latter did not nod, only subtly shook his head.
Autumn Mountain Yawata stopped advancing and retreated two steps, back into the crowd.
What… what is this? The so-called last dignity left for us?
Wien momentarily lost his ability to think, not even knowing what his next step should be.
Fortunately, before he could dwell on it for a few more seconds, a loud broadcast sounded throughout the bridge.
“On behalf of the Exercise Directorate, I officially announce that this single-ship exercise has concluded successfully!
Thank you all for your hard work!”