Chapter 57

Chapter 57

The narrow blade of the Tang sword, reminiscent of a gentleman's ceremonial sword, was the only type that had survived into the interstellar age.

With a narrow edge and a blade made of special alloys, its performance was on par with a spaceship's hull, and it boasted exceptional resilience.

It seemed to embody the principle of "strength and flexibility in unison," retaining the elegant aesthetic of a gentleman's ceremonial weapon without hindering its utility as a fierce and sturdy instrument of violence.

A cold white light slid from the blade to the hilt, emitting a faint "pfft" barely audible amidst the howling wind.

The longsword effortlessly penetrated the tough exoskeleton of the insects, slicing through them as if cutting tofu, making the viewers feel as if they too could easily vanquish these large, grotesque bugs that had nearly made them scream a second ago.

The dark mech wielded the Tang sword with both hands, its movements crisp as it withdrew the blade, causing thick, ink-green blood to spray out, staining the brooding sky.

The video, just two minutes long, showcased a mech armored in black, brandishing a Tang sword, melding into the dark swarm. Wherever it went, dark green splashed, insect cries pierced the air, and some bugs instinctively fled in fear.

When had they ever witnessed such a spectacle?

In the past, it was only humans who were terrified by the insectoids, scattering in all directions, crying out for help. To them, the bugs seemed invincible, inherently unaware of what fear meant.

Not until they laid eyes on this video did their entire previous understanding come crashing down.

As the video ended, the person recording it let out an astonished whisper, "Major Lin is too strong!"

Those who watched the video took a long while to recover from their shock.

Some couldn't help but watch it again and again, while others had already taken the video for analysis.

Many in the comment section asked with puzzled curiosity, "Is this Lin Fu?"

"No way... There are so many surnamed Lin, it's not just him. Plus, he's a captain, not a major. Didn't you hear the title at the end of the video?"

Someone countered, "But the mech and weapon are clearly Lin Fu's!"

"Can you really determine someone's identity just by their black mech and weapon? Don't forget, Lin Fu is just a guide. How could he possibly be on the front lines?"

Even if Lin Fu managed to make it to the front, those at the rear still saw him as nothing more than a pretty vase under protection, not a humanoid weapon on the battlefield.

Someone explained, "But this is Lin Zaizai for sure. His mech's design hasn't been produced in any known factories, and his weapon is unique. This type of sword was called a 'Tang sword' in ancient times, not a common weapon, mainly used for armor penetration. If the material isn't strong enough, it would easily break against the insectoids' carapaces, making it less useful than ordinary weapons. That's why most factories don't equip their armories with such weapons."

"I know this! This mech is the same model as Major General Cheng Jiu's. Unless Cheng gave someone other than Lin the same model, there's no second candidate other than Lin Fu."

"Well said above. Major General Cheng also has such a mech. Maybe it's Major General Cheng himself. 'Major Lin' could be a mishearing because it was too muffled. Those in the comment section who know nothing are just trying to glorify Lin Fu. Such strength is beyond the reach of a typical A-level sentinel, only S+ level Major General Cheng fits the bill."

The comment section was abuzz with different opinions about the identity of the protagonist in the video.

Undisputed was the fact that this video left an indelible impression on their minds and lifted their spirits.

Such a heroic figure, so powerful that even the insectoids felt fear, was truly captivating.

Soon, many analytical emperors appeared in the comment section with vast amounts of data to analyze the video.

"The insectoids in the video are level 6 Iron Shell bugs, known for their hard carapaces. Their larvae have the strength of level 4 insectoids from birth. They cluster, reproduce rapidly, and have a short lifespan, making them the main force in the insectoids' offensive."

"According to the records, the appearance of the Iron Shell bugs is along the front lines from asteroid AI019 to AH824, which includes the battlefronts of the Fourth and Ninth Armies, as well as parts of the Sixth Army's front."

"The video offers a limited skyward perspective, but it reveals a sky of grayish-purple and a ground of russet-red. Only 17 planets meet these conditions on the front lines, with 12 lying within the internal battle zones, rarely breached by the likes of the Iron Shell species. Of the remaining five planets, two fall under the jurisdiction of the First and Second Legions, while two belong to the Ninth Legion, and one to the Fourth."

"According to the title, planets eligible for recapture are classified as Grade S. Among the aforementioned candidates, those under the Ninth Legion are Grade A, while only the planet under the Fourth Legion qualifies as Grade S and is situated close to the defensive line. Therefore, the Major piloting the black mecha in the video must be Lin Fu, who enlisted two years ago."

"Yes, it's Lin Fu!"

Upon reaching this conclusion, some were incredulous, questioning life itself, others were ecstatic, recalling the days of rallying behind Lin Fu, feeling a sense of pride.

Then there were the devoted Lin fans, who remained ardent supporters. They rejoiced in the comment section, boasting proudly, "See, I told you it was our Lin baby, but you wouldn't believe me."

They resembled a group of proud little peacocks, fanning their feathers and boasting wildly.

A smaller faction, captivated by the unstoppable prowess of the black mecha in the video, became fervent new Lin fans. They silently gathered information on Lin Fu, silently aligning themselves with his cause.

As the video continued to spread, knowledge proliferated along with it, and the Fourth Legion became widely discussed.

Many of the younger generation had forgotten about this declining legion, now suddenly thrust into their view, they asked in wonder, "Is the Fourth Legion really that formidable?"

With swarms frequently erupting, holding the line was impressive enough, but could they really advance and invade the territories of these creatures on a Grade S planet?

"If they were truly that formidable, why did they decline?"

Hearing such questions, the older generation would rise in fervent explanation, detailing the indelible marks left by the Fourth Legion throughout history and the legendary commander Dempsey Pederson, indispensable in military textbooks.

Compared to the Fourth Legion of old, the current Ninth and Sixth Legions are practically feeble. If not for the decline of the Fourth, those so-called Grade S planets would never have fallen to the creatures but would remain rightfully ours," the elders spoke of their times.

Their era.

And its scenery.

While the Star Network now belongs to the younger generation, for the old, the Fourth Legion holds an incomparable place in their hearts—despite its current decline and scant number of new recruits.

With the Fourth Legion suddenly gaining some attention on the Star Network, some youths, inspired by its past glory, declared their intent to join the Fourth after graduating from the military academy, aspiring to revive its former splendor.

The older generation saw this as but a fleeting jest.

"There won't be another Dempsey Pederson."

……

The Fourth Army, with its main forces stationed in the core area of the Star Core.

Putian Xiangri and several officers swiped, manipulated, and uploaded various items on the virtual light screen.

Others were engaged in rudimentary video editing.

Still others were tasked with reviewing the materials.

Suddenly, someone exclaimed in surprise, "Lieutenant! There's a video upload that's exploded in views, surpassing 600 billion! Tracing the source, it turns out a celebrity has shared the link!"

As he reported, he pulled up another search bar, typed in the celebrity's name for an entry search, and in the blink of an eye, a plethora of information popped up, leaving him in a daze.

His mouth agape, he stuttered, "It's... it's the Empire's most beautiful guide, voted number one for five consecutive years, also a recipient of the top ten acting awards, a reigning film emperor, with fans spread across the entire star domain..."

A long list of titles, accompanied by photos that popped up.

The guide in the photos was exceedingly handsome, so much so that one might fall in love with just an extra glance.

The officer's ears turned red, and he quickly closed the introduction page, looking up at Putian Xiangri.

After a moment of thought, Putian Xiangri asked, "Is it Qi Mingxi?"

The officer, still in a daze, responded, "How did you know? Yes, it's him."

Putian Xiangri frowned, contemplating how to handle the situation.

Qi Mingxi was the young master of the Qi family, a cousin to Cheng Jiu in terms of kinship.

And his superior had a close relationship with Cheng Jiu.

Lin Fu was currently engaged in bug extermination on Planet S177 and was not easily reachable.

After a moment's consideration, he instructed, "Don't interfere, continue releasing videos as previously planned. Pay closer attention to the trends on the Star Web and report to me in a timely manner."

*

Following Lin Fu's video, the number of videos related to the Fourth Army gradually increased on the Star Web.

Not all were about Lin Fu; many were combat videos of others.

Some seemed to be simply riding the wave of popularity, even releasing old archival footage from many years ago.

There were also fervent fans of the Fourth Army who, noticing the increased attention on the Star Web, eagerly introduced their once-cherished heroes.

As the fervor slightly waned, the empire's renowned superstar, Qi Mingxi, once again shared a combat video of Lin Fu.

The video had barely been released for two minutes before it was shared again.

In the five-minute video, the black mech's combat style was as ferocious as ever, its murderous intent palpable even through the screen, sending chills down one's spine.

The Tang sword traced arcs in the air, piercing, slashing, and sweeping, each movement stirring up splashes of dense green as the bugs screeched, disintegrated into fragments, and fell at the mech's feet, becoming fertilizer for the planet.

The violent aesthetics were depicted so vividly that every viewer felt their blood surge, their scalp tingle, and their screams stuck in their throats, ready to break through their rationality and burst out!

After slaying the last bug, the insects retreated like the tide, leaving behind a ground littered with carapaces and limbs.

At the end of the video, the black mech stepped over the corpses of the bugs, walked to a clean spot, wiped the Tang sword clean, and retracted it into the weapon bay.

The mech kneeled slightly, the cockpit opened, and a young man in a dark green combat suit leaped out, his slender figure cat-like, lightly and agilely stepping, leveraging, and landing on the ground.

Half of his fair face was revealed, his brows and eyes shaded under the brim of his cap, lit up by the light, focusing the frame on the straight bridge and tip of his nose.

It made one want to reach out and touch.

Someone called out to him, "Lieutenant Lin."

Hearing this, the young man turned his head.

And the video abruptly ended.