Chapter 145: “How do you expect me to calm down!”
This response to the super-large insect swarm marked a moment of unprecedented unity, with all nations across the continent banding together against a common foreign enemy.
At this moment, there were no enemies, only comrades-in-arms.
Thus, at the borders everywhere, there were black Imperial military uniforms as well as the differently colored uniforms of soldiers from other nations.
They spoke different languages, but without exception, their faces all bore a longing for the future and a fearless readiness to face death in battle.
Ai Li and Ji Weishen were in the same direction but in different sectors. Feng Muya had already rallied the military’s morale in just two short days, while Fu Qishang navigated the ground combat troops like a fish in water.
Shen Zhuo originally thought he would need some time to mesh with the soldiers under his command.
But after sparring with just one or two of the troublemakers, no one dared to contradict him anymore.
The fact that “Major General Shen Zhuo is the Empire’s most powerful Omega, even stronger than an Alpha” spread throughout the entire army.
Recently, Shen Zhuo’s relationship with Nain Tute had also softened significantly.
When Shen Zhuo went to the training grounds, Nain Tute was drilling his subordinates. Upon seeing Shen Zhuo, he offered a salute.
An unstandardized Imperial military salute.
“I thought you would always stick to your identity as the Prince of Nain, and that you wouldn’t wear our country’s uniform or use our military salute.”
Shen Zhuo replied indifferently, mimicking Nain Tute’s tone from that day, “After all, your feelings for your country are quite deep.”
Nain Tute no longer acted awkwardly. Looking at the soldiers below, he said:
“What clothes I wear or what salute I use doesn’t really matter. Who I am isn’t important; what matters is how many enemies I kill.”
Shen Zhuo patted his shoulder and didn’t say anything more.
The month of drills passed quickly. Shen Zhuo was nearly three months pregnant, which was the most uncomfortable period.
Lacking pheromones, the Omega found it incredibly difficult to fall asleep night after night.
It started with just a stomach ache, but later progressed to sore limbs and profound weakness, making it hard to find a comfortable position even while tossing and turning.
During the final week, he had to be put on an IV drip every day to alleviate the physical pain. In the dead of winter, cold sweats frequently soaked through his clothes.
Pregnancy for a high-tier Omega was inherently more grueling than for an ordinary Omega.
Not to mention, his Alpha wasn’t by his side.
He had to endure all the discomfort entirely on his own.
However, Shen Zhuo masked it perfectly on the outside. Only Nain Tute saw through it.
“It’s pretty good. At least you have the conviction to fight desperately or to return home.”
Shen Zhuo found it hard to believe that the previously abrasive Nain Tute could be so perceptive.
“Here, take this.” Nain Tute pulled a crescent-shaped pendant from his breast pocket and handed it to Shen Zhuo.
“What is this?” Shen Zhuo took it and examined it closely.
“If you crush it in your mouth, it can block pain receptors for about ten days, with no side effects.”
Nain Tute glanced at Shen Zhuo’s stomach. “It’s useless to me anyway. Consider it a favor. Treat my country a little better in the future.”
Shen Zhuo looked at him. “Are you that certain you’re going to die?”
Nain Tute nodded nonchalantly:
“I never planned on returning to my country alive. Dying on the battlefield is much better than dying in a conspiracy.”
Every country had its own unique circumstances. The fight for royal power in the Kingdom of Nain had escalated into a life-and-death struggle.
Ever since Nain Tute set foot on Imperial soil, he hadn’t expected to return alive.
Just then, the Eastern Commander hurried over and said to Shen Zhuo, “A message from His Majesty. He wants you to return immediately.”
Shen Zhuo and Nain Tute exchanged a look. “The insect swarm is only three days away. What could be so urgent?”
The Commander said he didn’t know the details, only that Shen Zhuo needed to hurry back to the Royal Palace.
There was almost no color in Shen Zhuo’s face. Being away from Du Feng, his complexion was already poor due to the torments of pregnancy.
But before Chu Baixian left, he had prepared all the nutrient injections and soothing agents, so Shen Zhuo hadn’t displayed any excessive weakness.
Nain Tute tilted his chin at him. “It’s fine, you go back. The Commander and I can manage things here.”
Shen Zhuo gave Nain Tute a profound look.
He couldn’t help but feel that this kid had grown up a lot.
“Alright.” Shen Zhuo turned and said something to the Commander. Grabbing his military jacket and hat, he said to Nain Tute,
“I leave the specifics to you all. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
On the aircraft, Shen Zhuo couldn’t get through to Du Feng’s phone, and there was no response to the messages sent via the military communicator either.
This was the first time Du Feng was completely out of contact.
Shen Zhuo gripped his phone tightly.
What was going on…
What exactly had happened?
.
It was 3:00 PM when he arrived at the Royal Palace.
Heavy snow fell thickly over the Imperial Capital, painting the sky a desolate grayish-white.
The resplendent Royal Palace was shrouded under a thick layer of snow, exuding a deathly, freezing chill.
When Shen Zhuo opened the door and entered Du Feng’s room, his pupils abruptly contracted.
The man’s eyes were bloodshot, his face covered in stubble, and the exhaustion and gloom in his eyes were impossible to erase.
In front of him was a blue, transparent virtual sandbox, displaying the exact segment of the eastern border that Shen Zhuo was defending.
Du Feng didn’t seem to notice the youth entering. He manipulated his abilities, altering the strategic methods on the virtual sandbox over and over again.
But Shen Zhuo could clearly see that, in the end, the 20,000 men he led would all die.
Without exception.
No matter what method was used—changing strategies, increasing troop numbers, altering timing—it was all futile.
The sheer magnitude of the enemy’s numbers was chilling, even within the virtual sandbox.
If they were facing a single, powerful enemy, they could employ various techniques. But this was different.
No techniques could be used here.
It was absolute suppression by sheer volume.
It was an ending without a single sliver of hope.
Du Feng took a deep breath, despairingly closed his eyes, and his hands dropped heavily onto the table.
The flag representing the military leader in the sandbox turned gray once more.
But a second later, Du Feng opened his eyes, his gaze frantic as he initiated the next simulation.
Shen Zhuo stood at the door, watching Du Feng exhaust every possible method, yet remaining as powerless as he had been through hundreds of past reincarnations.
He understood why Du Feng had called him back.
He had never seen Du Feng look like this—disheveled, manic, so haggard he hardly looked human.
“How many days has it been since you slept?” The youth’s voice suddenly broke the silence of the room. Du Feng sharply shifted his gaze.
“You… you’re here.” Du Feng’s voice was terrifyingly hoarse.
The Alpha realized how he must look. He immediately adjusted his posture and forced a difficult smile for the youth:
“Did I scare you?”
Shen Zhuo shook his head. “Is there no way?”
Du Feng looked at the sandbox. After a long time, he let out a heavy “En.” “The research institute gave their latest report three days ago. The number of Zerg is… ten times greater than previously detected.”
Even Shen Zhuo couldn’t help but suck in a breath.
Tens of millions of Zerg.
That was a quantity where individual ranks could no longer determine the combat outcome.
Du Feng’s fingers clenched tighter and tighter. “But other armies can’t spare any personnel for reinforcement, and all the teachers and students from the Imperial Military Academy have already joined the battle…”
The Alpha held his forehead, his eye sockets as red as dripping blood.
A profound sense of powerlessness surged back with a vengeance.
“If we evacuate the Imperial citizens first and pull the borderlines back, there might still be a chance…” Du Feng looked at Shen Zhuo, revealing a strained, bitter smile.
“Madam… I really want to bring everyone back… I really do…”
“So you want me to organize the citizens’ evacuation, thereby staying away from the battlefield and saving my own life, is that it?” Shen Zhuo said coldly.
For the first time, Shen Zhuo directed such a frosty expression at Du Feng, the warmth slowly receding from his eyes.
The two stared at each other as if in a standoff, neither willing to back down.
“Yes, organizing the evacuation is also a vital task, and your mission would be extremely arduous—”
“But I don’t want to be a deserter. Just because I might die, I shouldn’t fight? Just because we might be completely annihilated, I should flee along with the civilians?”
Shen Zhuo enunciated each word clearly, staring into Du Feng’s bloodshot eyes:
“Du Feng, I said it before. I will not stay in the rear.”
Du Feng was momentarily stunned by the youth’s attitude.
But the next second, Du Feng stood up and roared uncontrollably, “Then what do you expect me to do! If something happens to you, what do you expect me to do?!”
“Do you want me to just stand by and watch you die?!”
“Calm down a bit, Du Feng…”
“How do you expect me to calm down!”
The rosemary pheromones in the air were mixed with chaos and mania.
Shen Zhuo felt a lump in his throat.
In truth, he knew.
He had known about Du Feng’s obsession for a long time.
Even though Du Feng had never breathed a word about his previous two hundred reincarnations up to this point, Shen Zhuo could deeply feel that kind of despair through his eyes.
Shen Zhuo remembered the words Jiang Yuening had said a long time ago—
Lovers, family, dreams, and responsibilities… perhaps one day they will become weights on either side of a scale, and you can only choose one.
When he pulled the trigger that day, he hadn’t faced a situation of such certain death.
But now, with the bullet aimed straight between his eyes, Shen Zhuo finally understood the heavy weight behind Jiang Yuening’s words.
Would he hesitate?
Shen Zhuo felt that he wouldn’t.
From beginning to end, he held fast to his original choice.
—He was going to do what he had to do.
Shen Zhuo gently pushed the man down to sit, then lifted his face so he was forced to look at him.
Du Feng’s eyes were thoroughly laced with blood vessels.
He probably hadn’t slept a wink since learning about the revised Zerg numbers.
The Alpha had thought countless times that, if possible, he would gladly die in the youth’s place.
“Du Feng.” Shen Zhuo looked at him.
The Alpha paused, his gloomy eyes lowering. His eyelashes trembled as he closed his eyes, his voice shaking:
“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
“If I’m not at the front lines, who is going to defend them?”
Shen Zhuo was unusually calm, his fingertips holding Du Feng’s cheeks without a single tremor:
“Think about it carefully. If we can’t hold the line, what will become of the Empire? Whether humanity will even continue to exist will be in question.”
“In a situation like this, is it the time to consider personal survival?”
“If humanity ceases to exist, everything you’ve done all these years will have been in vain.”
“Du Feng, didn’t you want to create a peaceful world?”
Du Feng’s pupils trembled, his lips moving soundlessly a few times.
He wanted to say: Yes, I want to create a peaceful world. But it was all for you.
Everything I did was just so you could live well…
But ultimately, Du Feng couldn’t utter a single word.
Shen Zhuo exhaled softly and broke into a sudden smile.
His Epiphyllum pheromones bloomed with a gentle aura, his dark eyes shining as brilliantly as a proud, blazing sun. “We are far from reaching a dead end right now.”
“Whether the enemy is one million, or ten million.”
“I will slaughter them to show you.”
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