Interstellar Survival: Invasion - Chapter 310: Rescue
The super virus reacted speedily. Its healed tentacles started defending against our attacks. At the same time, its bulk increased, making it look even stronger. It was able to easily deal with the numerous attacks that were being thrown its way. The other damaged parts of its body also fully healed in the blink of an eye.
“This is bad. We’re going to lose. This fellow is too scary. We’re not its match. A monster like this is not something we can stop,” said Temo, sounding defeated.
The surface below us had been thoroughly ravaged while the super virus’s tentacles had grown to an unbelievable size. It almost looked like the planet itself could no longer withstand the destruction caused by the super virus.
“Looks like this is a freak that will grow stronger every time it recovers from an injury. Unless we can deal enough damage to kill it in one blow, defeating it will be impossible,” said Baron Sisse.
“But how can we deliver the fatal blow? It seems very good when it comes to healing, especially when it is harnessing the power of the planet,” said Zhang Xingxing.
“I reckon it’s already too late to do so now,” said Temo coldly.
After saying that, he controlled Markus and rose rapidly, reaching a higher altitude in the sky. Meanwhile, the ground below us was akin to a raging sea. I could hear an odd booming sound coming from Pluto itself due to all the damage being done to it. The ground activities combined with the super virus’s movements created numerous erupting ice volcanoes on the ground. These holes were not the result of the fiend’s attacks. Rather, they were all forcefully created by the super virus.
“This planet is at its limits. It can’t withstand more damage from this monster,” said Temo, who sounded rather alarmed.
“With the massive ice storm, the super virus no longer lacks the energy to heal itself. It is no longer possible to defeat it,” said Old Du, acknowledging our defeat.
“If the super virus is able to defeat the robotic army, will we be able to take advantage of the chaos and rescue the great sovereign? Even though we will lose Pluto, the great sovereign is much more important than this dwarf planet,” said Zhang Bao’er.
Hearing Zhang Bao’er’s suggestion, Zhang Xingxing signaled Old Du with her eyes.
“Dodo, this is Markus. How is your search for the great sovereign?” asked Old Du. With Zhang Xingxing’s order, he no longer had any reservations about contacting Dodo.
“Markus, this is Bob. There seem to be intense explosions occurring on the ground. The city is shaking violently. Many of the ships are already withdrawing with the robots. We have found the great sovereign’s position. Dodo is attempting to rescue it amid the chaos. I’m standing guard outside,” said Bob.
Hearing Bob’s words, we finally noticed that due to the intense ground activities, the pillars behind the walls of light were starting to sway. It was as though their very foundations were being damaged.
“This planet is near its end. It is quite a surprise that Dodo is already attempting to rescue the great sovereign. Well done. I wonder how they did it. We need to reinforce them as soon as possible,” said Zhang Xingxing in excitement.
“But if we leave, what about the fiend? Are we leaving it to face the super virus alone?” I asked.
At that moment, the fiend was protecting itself with a layer of red flames around its body. It was still resisting the super virus with great difficulty, but numerous massive tentacles were approaching it, seemingly intending to surround it before finishing it in one blow.
“We need to warn the fiend. We can’t leave it to die. Let’s tell it to head higher into the sky first,” I said to Temo.
Suddenly, a loud sound of something snapping rang out. One of the pillars had snapped. The platform supported by the pillar dropped into the ground where the super virus was waiting. Several massive tentacles shot up and smashed the platform and the part of the city on it into pieces. We were all dumbstruck by the sight.
“We need to reinforce Dodo and Bob immediately. Before long, the entire city will be destroyed by the super virus,” said Zhang Bao’er, who was getting anxious.
The situation was critical. The city in the sky was collapsing part by part. The robotic army also started withdrawing rapidly. Things were looking extremely bad for the fiend as well. It was already surrounded by the super virus’s tentacles. However, it was still fighting unyieldingly. The two had been fighting each other for hundreds of millions of years, and it seemed like one of them was finally going to fall.
“Commander, I managed to contact Dodo again. The part of the city they’re in has not collapsed. Dodo seems to have found the great sovereign. They have transmitted the coordinates to me,” Kelly reported.
“Markus, ascend. Head to Dodo’s coordinates and cover their withdrawal. I did not expect this chaos to create a chance for us to save the great sovereign!” ordered Zhang Xingxing in excitement.
“Temo, get Markus to give the fiend one final helping hand before leaving. Try to at least help it escape,” I resisted Zhang Xingxing’s order and gave another suggestion. I really didn’t want to do nothing and watch as the fiend was killed.
Hearing my words, Temo did not say anything. He brought the ship down toward the fiend and released several beams from the ship. The beams started cutting the tentacles around the fiend, attempting to create an opening for the fiend to escape.
“Canyue, we’re running out of time. If we stay any longer, we’ll also be surrounded. If the part of the city Dodo and Bob are on collapses as well, everything will be over for us,” reminded Old Du.
A nervous silence enveloped Markus as the laser beams rapidly cut through the super virus’s tentacles. After cutting open a large hole through the tentacles, Markus unleashed dozens of guided missiles toward the hole.
The white missiles whistled through the air toward the cut tentacles. At the moment of contact, a furious explosion erupted. The tentacles in front of us were instantly lit aflame, the raging flames illuminating the night sky.
“More! More! Burn this freak to death!” cheered Zhang Bao’er in excitement.
Pressing onto the advantage, Markus unleashed another barrage of guided missiles at the burning tentacles, intending to deal even more damage to the super virus. Abruptly, a massive chunk of ice appeared in front of us. It took on all our guided missiles, tanking the explosions for the super virus.
As the broken chunks of ice dropped down from the air, we finally noticed that an even larger tentacle had plucked the chunk of ice from the ground and placed it between Markus and the fiend. The burning tentacles were being rapidly replaced by new tentacles, and instead of being freed, the fiend was surrounded by even more tentacles. Even more terrifying was the fact that while focusing on helping the fiend, we did not notice that we had already been surrounded by thick tentacles as well.
“We’re surrounded. These tentacles can now reach as high as a kilometer in the sky. Canyue, your previous information is no longer reliable,” said Temo. Even in such a plight, he still displayed the grace and calm of someone from a star-level civilization.
“Looks like the monster grew stronger after its evolution. Canyue, it’s all your fault! We should have retreated. Why did you insist on helping the fiend? Are you happy now? We’re all going to die with the fiend,” complained Domo, which wasn’t surprising at all.
“If you’re scared of death, you shouldn’t have come. If your people weren’t such cowards back then, you wouldn’t have been kicked out of the race,” said Temo.
“What did you just say? If you’re unhappy with me, we can have a fight! I’ll be sure to crush you before I die,” said Domo, who was getting increasingly agitated.
“Can’t you see the situation we’re in? Why are you still fighting? Is this how those from a so-called high-leveled civilization behave?” scolded Zhang Xingxing.
Seeing that Zhang Xingxing was really angry, Temo stopped bickering. He increased the intensity of Markus’s attacks, attempting to break free of the encirclement. Alas, reality proved that we had underestimated the super virus. For the sake of helping the fiend, our ship had been surrounded. The terrifying tentacles seemed to be everywhere, sealing all possible escape routes. Markus was pushed into an impasse.
“This is getting real troublesome. This monster is much stronger than I had imagined,” said Temo, still calm.
“What should we do now? Can your ship escape?” asked Zhang Bao’er, who was visibly getting nervous.
“Death will come for everyone. That is the universe’s most fundamental rule. Nobody can escape death,” Temo gave a reply that sank Zhang Bao’er into even greater despair.
“This is a total loss. After getting onto this stupid fake high-civilization ship, all my hard work for the past two years has been for nothing,” muttered Domo, still worried about his wealth even when facing death.
“Kelly, Old Du, we managed to free the great sovereign! Notify the commander to come pick us up! This place is going to collapse soon! We did it! We really did it! Who dares to look down on robots after this?” Dodo’s voice rang out in the system while everyone was wallowing in despair.
One side of the communication was full of hope while the other side was full of despair.
“Temo, think of something. Is there any way for us to escape the tentacles?” I asked, once again placing my hope on Temo.
We could all see that Temo was sinking into deep thought. By now, almost all of Markus’s weapons were being used. Unfortunately, the weapons could only slow the tentacles instead of beating them back.
I saw Anxashe make his final prayer. None of us had expected the situation to change so rapidly. In such a short period of time, we had been pulled down from the altar of victory down into the abyss of death. Dodo was unceasingly calling out to us through the communicator, but nobody dared to give them a reply. As our last bit of hope turned into despair, Markus suddenly shook violently.
“Temo, what’s going on? Are you going to perform a wormhole leap?” asked Zhang Bao’er in excitement when he saw that there was still hope.
However, Temo firmly shook his head.
“All possible wormhole nodes have been blocked by the super virus. The intense shaking comes from the air of Pluto itself,” said Temo, throwing Zhang Bao’er back into despair.
Instantly, a miracle appeared.