Daxia paid no attention to the "drama" unfolding among these people.
They indulged their own prodigies unconditionally. No matter how eloquently others spoke, Daxia wouldn't listen.
Wei Huan was exceptional.
Since his rise, Daxia led the charge to Sequence Five, seizing numerous islands in the Fifth-Level World and topping the combat power rankings.
Their national strength nearly matched the combined might of all other nations.
Beyond his contributions to Daxia, Wei Huan's pivotal role in securing humanity's victories made any criticism of him unjustifiable.
So what if he killed a few—or a few hundred—Haisang citizens?
Ignoring past grudges, Haisang's assassination of global geniuses in recent years was the true madness. What good did killing talents do for humanity? It choked the continuation of human civilization. Even if their own geniuses made the list, if they weren't up to par on advanced battlefields, they'd be liabilities.
Such typical "pig teammates"—why keep them for the new year?
The officers and soldiers present ignored the others' bluster. No matter how flowery their words, Daxia wouldn't listen—'la-la-la, tortoise chanting sutras'.
They'd handle things their way. With the biggest fists, anyone daring to challenge could try!
The only reason war hadn't resumed was Daxia's restraint and mercy as a major power. However detestable Haisang was, its ordinary citizens and innocent children deserved no blame.
Now, they awaited the evidence—ironclad proof to arrest Haisang's top brass, bury their deluded leaders with Daxia's fallen geniuses, and install obedient replacements.
The supreme commander on Daxia's carrier lit a cigarette, calmly watching the others' hysterics.
But when Yake, unable to bear it, rebuked them, his clear, foolish eyes met the commander's through the camera lens.
The clouds in the commander's eyes dissipated. "My path isn't alone; there are still comrades."
When saviors were attacked by profiteers, it was grossly unfair to the devoted.
If this persisted, who would keep sacrificing?
The world would become what, then?
The bottom line was conscience.
A race without conscience might as well perish.
Yake held Aosham's final line.
He glared at his deputy, his trusted aides, and the soldiers on the ship, heart heavy with sorrow.
When had the proud, great Aosham become this?
Twisting truth, slandering heroes, wearing hypocritical masks that nauseated.
He said, "Before Shi Hengchuan's death, his final recorder was with me. It clearly shows whether Wei Huan struck first or Shi Hengchuan had ill intentions.
I didn't reveal it because I'd negotiated a deal with Wei Huan, even exchanging tokens. It should've been a mutually beneficial trade. Look at what you've done. Do you just want the key for free, or do you want Wei Huan dead? What did he do wrong? His only fault is tirelessly saving humanity and Blue Star!"
Yake's anguished words stunned everyone.
What!? How could such evidence exist? Wasn't Shi Hengchuan's body and vehicle swallowed by the Challenge World, leaving no proof?
Crucially, when Yake returned, his deputy and others were on the vehicle and never saw him retrieve anything. How did he get this key evidence? Was he bluffing?
No, the real issue was, even if he had it, shouldn't he keep it secret?
Why reveal it? Whose side was he on?
Both sides couldn't fathom Yake's stance.
Aosham's esteemed colonel, a top global challenger, wasn't supporting Aosham—was it for some foolish justice?
"I stand only with what's right," Yake said, unregretful, emphasizing, "Stop slandering heroes. Don't lie to my face. Numbers don't equal justice. My evidence, paired with Wei Huan's, will reveal the truth."
Yake looked at his companions, baffled. Didn't they feel guilty spouting such flimsy lies?
Yet, he saw no shame on their faces—only anger and confusion toward him.
Their unified glares placed him firmly on the opposing side.
Truth didn't matter.
The deputy acted for promotion, Stick Country's prophetess to please her patron, Tula for self-interest.
Shared goals aligned their stance; they only needed to speak.
But what was Yake, this fool, saying?
Did he think he was the world's savior?
Plenty were stronger, paired with great vehicles and national trust, always leading.
Yake, with skill but too many ideals, stubborn as an ox, never learned to curry favor. He was destined to be cannon fodder, a stepping stone.
Honestly, his deputy had anticipated this. Knowing Yake well, he believed overwhelming "momentum" would force Yake's compliance.
This was that momentum—Aosham leading, Tula joining, Stick and Haisang condemning together. In this vast net, Yake should've been swept along, not acting out.
But… the deputy thought darkly, any lingering bond was severed. Staying with such an obtuse man would only drag him down.
"Where's the evidence? On you? Show it," the deputy said, pitying Yake.
Yake replied coolly, "No need to probe. I'll show it when necessary."
"So you don't have it."
"Keep shouting, then."
"…"
Daxia watched this "dogfight" with amusement, nearly laughing themselves silly.
Yet, Yake's fairness and sincerity stood out.
If Yake gained power, Daxia-Aosham relations might ease, improving Blue Star's situation.
He warranted further observation and contact.
Then, new intelligence arrived.
Daxia's Special Ops Team A reached the rendezvous safely. Tasked with infiltrating Omura's residence, expected to be the toughest mission, they faced minimal resistance.
Team B, however, after destroying the War Clan's landing point, faced pursuit from Haisang's elites and Aosham's garrison. The implications were intriguing, but now wasn't the time to delve. The ambush nearly doomed Team B.
"…Majors Wei and Mu rescued them, capturing all 233 members of Aosham's main combat battalion at their eastern base. Awaiting orders!"
The reporting Daxia soldier roared with pride.
Exhilarating! Damn exhilarating!
This wasn't just bombing Shi Heng's estate or Wei Huan wiping out an Aosham base—it was capturing 233 high-tier challengers under their noses.
Killing and capturing were worlds apart, requiring vastly different skill, giving Daxia immense leverage.
The news electrified Daxia's troops.
The carrier's supreme commander leapt up, laughing. "Haha! Great! My Azure Dragon kids are true dragons!"
"So, the evidence is with Wei Huan?" the legion commander asked.
"Yes, all handed to Major Wei, en route back."
"Good. My turn to shine!"
He sounded the horn, drawing all eyes.
He declared, "We have irrefutable evidence. Haisang's senior leaders, including Omura, are directly linked to the deaths of 11 Daxia geniuses. With ironclad proof, we announce the arrest of 1,259 members of Omura's interest group.
We warn all nations: any interference during our arrests will be treated as declaring war on Daxia. Do not act rashly!"
Mecha legions took off, armed helicopters followed, and carrier fighters soared.
Warships sounded horns, advancing dozens of nautical miles.
Challengers, including Sequence Fives, emerged from ships—previously restrained until the evidence was secured.
Now was the time to strike.
To Omura's despair, Honma, thought to have escaped, was bound and shoved onto a ship's deck.
Behind him were Daxia's Frogman Druids. Though rare, Daxia had them. In water, as fish, catching a Sequence Five Druid by surprise wasn't hard.
Seeing Honma's dejected capture broadcasted, Omura knew he was finished.
The fleeting thought of escape reignited.
He knew Aosham wouldn't protect him. A failed puppet could be replaced; Aosham never acted without gain.
Killing him now served them better—dead men tell no tales, freeing Aosham from Daxia's accusations.
But he didn't want to die.
Better to live poorly than die. In the Challenge World, he'd secured a fallback.
Without a word, Omura turned to flee, seeking a safe spot to enter the Challenge World—even the sea would do. He'd never return if needed.
His panicked departure drew attention.
His guards, sensing his intent, faced a choice: betray their leader or escape.
They chose the latter.
Selected from thousands to protect their leader, loyalty was their duty.
'Splash!'
'Thud!'
Daxia's arrest team boarded instantly.
'Boom!'
'Bang!'
'Crash!'
Sudden combat drew all eyes. As Aosham's captain opened his mouth, Daxia broadcasted, "…Any interference is an act of war against us!"
The resolute voice, paired with carrier fighters, maximized deterrence.
Aosham's forces here matched Daxia's—fighting could go either way.
But did they dare?
Daxia's combat power equaled all others combined. Aosham couldn't risk a direct clash, resorting to verbal attacks for scraps.
Facing Daxia's resolve, Aosham could only "restrain" further.
News of Daxia's advance and Wei Huan's capture of 233 Aosham elites reached their high officials and Grand Elder.
All were livid. The 70-year-old Grand Elder, trembling with rage, needed a heart pill and oxygen to avoid collapsing.
Born in Aosham's dominant era, he'd known only a world trembling before them.
How had it come to this?
During his tenure, another nation surpassed them, now lording over Aosham.
How dare they?
He couldn't swallow this.
Unable to fight Daxia, the Grand Elder, after a whisper from his aide, found an outlet.
"Hmph, that fool! Notify the front: issue a treason warrant for Yake Dennis."
"Yes!"
…
Omura didn't escape. Daxia's warriors were too fast—30 seconds from warning to boarding, while entering the Challenge World took 2 minutes.
They dragged him from a bathroom, pinning and arresting him.
Omura screamed, "I'm Haisang's leader! You can't treat me like this! You've no right! This is foreign interference—starting a world war? Daxia's mad!"
Ignoring his cries, they gagged him, hooded him, draped a coat over him, and dragged him out—no one would recognize the disgraced Omura.
Once caught, he lost all choice.
Likewise, Aosham's North Port base commander in Haisang watched Wei Huan's Kobolds haul away his main force.
He'd considered another missile barrage to kill Wei Huan and erase the shame.
But he couldn't. Unable to kill Wei Huan, he cooperated, negotiating.
On the mecha's screen, the haggard colonel, eyes bloodshot, asked, "What do you want?"
"Our warrior died," Mu Zhong said, pained.
"We'll compensate—generously, including for injured Daxia warriors, to your satisfaction."
"Life is precious," Mu Zhong said.
"I know, I respect life, but in wartime, conflicts are unavoidable."
"No excuses," Mu Zhong raised his voice. "He's dead! Gone from this world! Gone!"
The colonel, speechless, fell silent.
Calming, Mu Zhong said, "The captives will live. Contact your superiors to negotiate with Daxia. You can't handle this alone."
The colonel nodded limply. He couldn't bear it and faced punishment—his career ruined.
As the last Aosham warrior was swallowed by a Kobold, Wei Huan recalled his undead. The mecha soared, bypassing the sea standoff, heading home.
With evidence and 233 captives, Wei Huan needed to hand them over swiftly.
Negotiations were draining; he preferred to wash his hands of it.
On the way, he asked, "Want to join the talks?"
Mu Zhong considered, then shook his head. "I crave power, but not this. Leave talks to experts. I just want core rights over the mecha legion."
Wei Huan nodded. Mu Zhong now spoke openly, expressing ambitions clearly.
Wei Huan admired this vibrant Mu Zhong, sharp as a drawn sword, yet sheathed only for him, filling him with unspoken satisfaction.
"Heard the carrier fleet added a mecha brigade?"
"Yes, mechas will dominate air combat, even in the Fifth-Level World's 'Archipelago,' showing great strength. Humanity's millennia of tech—carriers and fighters—are losing dominance."
"Mechas fight in air, water, even space. They're vital, but only pilots can use them."
"I'm unsure, but mechas aren't pilot-only. Non-pilots need more training." Mu Zhong pointed to his neural interface. "It's complex. Higher brain development means better mecha control. Pilots train for it, destined for high-performance mechas. Other classes struggle to develop brain capacity—born as is. Even with a training ground, I can't help them."
"No one can save the world alone," Wei Huan said, then thought, "Our golden treasure chest? Recovered?"
Shi Hengchuanmura wouldn't return to Blue Star.
Some acts, driven by passion, only later reveal dead ends.
The Challenge World gave criminals an escape.
Wei Huan's lost chest could only be compensated by Haisang—or Aosham…
Soon, Wei Huan reached Azure Dragon's challenge legion base.
The mecha landed on the tarmac, greeted by applauding troops celebrating their triumph.
Commander Chai personally welcomed them with a big hug. "Well done."
Wei Huan and Mu Zhong saluted. "Not hard at all!"
The critical evidence and 233 captives were transferred swiftly. Chai, grinning ear to ear, knew any tough task was safe with Wei Huan.
"Nothing for now. Rest a few days, then report back," Chai said, granting leave.
"Your promotion ceremony will be ready."
So soon?
Another promotion.
Wei Huan's merits warranted it. In chaotic times, formalities mattered less.
His recent "opponents" were at least colonels abroad—his rank couldn't lag.
Chai increasingly understood Zhuque Legion's blatant favoritism toward Fang William.
True geniuses, true pillars, held up in crises.
Back when Commander Hong was healthy, he'd nurtured Mu Zhong.
As deputy then, Chai resented resources given to "nepo-babies" like Mu Zhong, disliking both him and Mu Dehao.
Not anymore.
Young and naive then, he now saw Wei Huan's value. 'So great, so perfect—give him everything!'
While Wei Huan rested, the legion sent gifts.
Chai's secretary delivered them, saying, "You stay at your crew's place during breaks, and it's nice. We acquired three adjacent units—squeeze in for now. Other residents are tough to negotiate with, but we're trying.
Here are 10 new air flyers, styled as air cars, among the few licensed. They're on your lawn.
Materials, including potential negotiation gains, will be sent to the Challenge World when you return."
These were just part. Blue Star gifts poured in like they were free.
Few things moved Wei Huan until, on the fifth day, a familiar aide brought something.
Wei Huan's pupils shrank.
Acquired through special material trade, it was equipment.
[Pseudo-Divine · Colossus (Fragment)]
All attributes +25%
A gift from the Titans, a mark of the inheritor. On Titan Day, bearers may enter Titan City with the token.
A pseudo-divine artifact!?