Chapter Forty: The Assault

Chapter 40: The Attack

Luo Le chuckled awkwardly, unsure of what to say.

Yu Bing glanced at the document in his hand, then lifted his gaze to study Luo Le, his smile holding hidden meaning.

Feeling uneasy under Yu Bing's scrutiny, Luo Le asked, "W-what's wrong?"

"We're short on experiment subjects. You can fill in."

Considering his unique circumstances, Luo Le shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't manage."

"Why not?"

Luo Le briefly explained his situation. Upon hearing this, Yu Bing nodded thoughtfully and lowered his head, lost in contemplation.

Luo Le was patient, waiting for Yu Bing's response.

Suddenly, Yu Bing looked up. "It's fine. Didn't we install a motherboard to monitor changes? Your case is exceptional; it's perfect for observing how things unfold."

Luo Le had no objections, it was just a try.

"Alright."

Yu Bing pointed at the form in her hand and said, "In a while, two people will come. You attend to them. Don't worry about anything else, I'll take care of it. Just consider yourself an experimenter."

Luo Le nodded.

They waited and waited, but the people never arrived.

Yu Bing decided not to wait any longer. "You go ahead and try it out first. I'll ask around later what's going on."

Even though coming for the experiment wouldn't earn money or promotions, one could gain access to new mechas.

That was why there were usually over ten participants each year, and this was the first time such a situation had occurred.

Luo Le didn't waste words and walked under the cockpit to stand.

This mech was incomplete, unable to engage in combat.

Within was a small device capable of real-time monitoring the compatibility between one's mental power and the mecha's performance.

It could simulate operations through the AI and estimate values. Luo Le felt it was more aptly called a diagnostic tool than a mecha.

Luo Le took a deep breath. Could he accept it?

Several minutes later, Luo Le opened his eyes, only to realize he hadn't entered at all.

He sighed and shook his head.

Just as he turned to declare his failure, a beam of light suddenly pulled him in.

In the next moment, he found himself seated in the cockpit, facing four or five holographic screens.

Luo Le placed his hand on the luminous armrest, signaling with his eyes to proceed with the usual testing procedure.

Firstly, synchronization of basic aircraft maneuvers with mental aptitude.

Luo Le manipulated the mecha, executing the first maneuver: a fluid raise of the hand, flawlessly accomplished.

...

After going through each test one by one, there were no issues.

The second, third... all the way to the penultimate test were successfully completed.

The final test: the synchronization of mental power with the mecha's temporal traversal.

Upon completing this, they would be able to determine the compatibility between the two.

Luo Le closed his eyes, sensing his mental energy racing against time. Ten minutes... Half an hour...

Sweat beads formed on his forehead, trickling down in droplets.

His head throbbed, as if stuffed to the brim, ready to burst at any moment.

Amidst his haze, he could hear Yu Bing calling him, but her voice was indistinct.

He felt as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff, with a boulder blocking his path above. He couldn't find a way around it, and his eyes wouldn't open.

Just as he was about to give up, a golden rope suddenly appeared at his right.

He stretched out his hand, reaching for it once, twice – and finally grasped it. He pulled on the rope, continuously adjusting his position.

Yu Bing watched the fluctuating, nearly critical numbers and shouted, "Luo Le, come out quickly!"

He had no idea what was happening to Luo Le inside, but stopping now would not only ruin all their efforts but also harm Luo Le.

Yu Bing was so anxious that he felt like he was about to burst into flames, yet there was nothing he could do except hope that Luo Le would wake up soon.

At that moment, a commotion sounded from outside the door. He approached and opened it, only to have two people rush in and shut the door behind them.

Blood was seeping out from one's left shoulder and the other's right, trickling down their arms.

These were the two individuals who were supposed to arrive today. Yu Bing looked at the blood pooling on the floor and asked, "What happened to you?"

One of them was breathing rapidly, "The insects, they've attacked!"

They had been assigned a last-minute mission due to its confidential nature, hence they couldn't be notified beforehand. On their way here, they were unexpectedly ambushed by the insectoids.

The Ninth Planet's military operations had just concluded, leaving them with no time to tend to these refugees.

The defense systems in the military region where their troops were stationed had yet to fully recover.

Upon arriving, they immediately began repairs, but before they could finish, the insectoids launched a sudden attack.

Aside from the main military command center, this was the most heavily fortified area, and as they were closest to it, they sought shelter here.

Yu Bing's brows knitted slightly. "Where are we?"

"By the time we arrived, they had already established a defense, and were relentlessly ramming against the entrance with their bodies."

An unguarded military region being caught off guard is a terrifying affair.

"How is the main military region faring?"

Upon hearing this, the two wore solemn expressions and shook their heads. "It doesn't seem good. On our way here, we saw most of them flying towards the main military zone."

Yu Bing hurried back and tapped the holo-screen a few times, using the military district's specialized communication channel to contact the main military command.

Several attempts yielded no response.

"What's going on?"

Yu Bing looked up to find Luo Le, seemingly having descended without notice, standing not far ahead. His disheveled hair was drenched, as if he had just emerged from a pool of water.

"The insectoids have attacked the military headquarters."

Luo Le glanced at the numerical display on the screen, quickly deducing that Yu Bing was trying to contact the military.

With his reddened gaze fixed upon Yu Bing, he asked, "Is the main military zone in grave danger?"

Yu Bing sighed. "They mentioned that a large number of insectoids are heading there. But isn't there a specialized defense system in place? Why can't they get through?"

The two others replied, "For some reason, it hasn't activated."

Luo Le gazed in the direction of the main military zone. Huo Lanjing, he... is he alright?

He removed the monitoring patch from his wrist and strode towards the door.

Yu Bing quickly called out to him, "Where are you going?"

Luo Le turned back, "Activating the defense system."

"Wait, do you know where it is?"

Luo Le was taken aback; he had no idea.

"With your small frame, can you withstand a single swipe from a bug? Stay here, I'll go."

Looking at him with unwavering determination, Luo Le replied, "I'm going with you."

After their days of reliance on each other, Yu Bing knew Luo Le was stubborn and didn't waste any time.

"Did you bring your mecha?"

Luo Le answered without hesitation, "Yes, I did."

"Alright, you come with me. You two stay here, there's a healing pod over there. Keep an eye on my mecha and protect it well."

"Yes."

Based on the situation of the insects displayed on the screen, Yu Bing chose a path with fewer of them.

The screeching of insects filled their ears, and Luo Le dared not even breathe loudly as he followed closely behind.

Upon reaching the entrance, the insect's noises grew closer.

Yu Bing turned back, locking eyes with him before gesturing subtly.

Luo Le understood.

Each of them grabbed a water bottle and threw it in opposite directions.

There were only two insects outside. Hearing the sound, they exchanged glances and moved away from each other, back to back.

A clear path opened up before them.

Yu Bing's grip tightened, revealing a pull ring in his hand, and the same happened with Luo Le. The two dashed forward at top speed.

Not wanting to waste their mental energy on this journey, they refrained from using their mechas.

The insectoids soon detected them and began pursuit, swift in their flight.

The two of them evaded diligently, eventually drawing near the main military zone on the left.

Yu Bing pointed at the entrance below and said, "The password is 0820. Go in and activate the defense protocols."

Luo Le looked down and finally spotted it. "Alright, what about you?"

"I'll keep watch at the door. Hurry up."

As soon as he finished speaking, a colossal blue mecha suddenly appeared in front of Luo Le, grabbing hold of him.

In the next instant, he was flung away.

Luo Le couldn't help but cry out in surprise.

"Sending you on your way,"

Gazing at Luo Le's swift departing figure, Yu Bing leaped in the same direction without hesitation.

As insectoids flew toward them, Yu Bing's pupils constricted, and the cockpit of his mech glowed red.

Fortunately, Luo Le held onto the lever, ensuring a steady landing.

He knew that any moment of indecision could increase Yu Bing's peril.

Without hesitation, he entered the access code, and the door slid open. He rushed inside.

Descending to the third level, they finally reached the entrance.

Another password was required.

Yu Bing provided one, hopefully the correct one...

Luo Le inputted the identical code, and it proved accurate.

Before leaving, he glanced at the screen where the access code had been entered.

How could they have the same password...

Upon entering, he saw over ten people lying on the ground.

Luo Le took a few swift steps forward, supporting one person and checking their breath.

Fortunately, they were still breathing.

It seemed they had been drugged and passed out.

Scanning his surroundings, Luo Le eventually spotted the blue button Yu Bing mentioned.

But... it was already shattered.

Luo Le propped himself up on the counter, his mind racing with thoughts of what to do next.

Suddenly, five or six holographic screens appeared before him, displaying different entrances to the main military zone.

Luo Le's eyes swiftly scanned the screens.

Each image depicted a battle against the insectoids.

Huo Lanjing was nowhere to be seen.

Could it be that the insectoids have already infiltrated the inner sanctum?

Luo Le felt a twinge of panic.

Spotting a cable nearby, Luo Le paused for thought, then crouched down to lift the platform open.

Fortunately, Yu Bing's laboratory also had similar platforms, which Luo Le had tinkered with before.

Inside was a labyrinth of wires, split into two bundles, one leading to the blue button and the other to the red.

From his space, Luo Le retrieved his toolbox, switched off the power, and leaned in to begin his work.

He made a few mistakes, but caught them in time.

After a while, he finally finished. He plugged the cable, now brimming with wires, into the port on the console.

The light screen suddenly changed color, casting the room in a bloody red hue.

He tapped rapidly on the screen with both hands.

Meanwhile, at the other entrance.

Yu Bing kicked a nearby insectoid away with a palm. Having been tormented by five of them for some time, he was starting to feel overwhelmed.

He glanced at the entrance. Wasn't it open yet?

Just as he wondered, the door slid open, and Luo Le dashed out.

As he ran, he shouted, "Authorization required."

That solution could only be executed by Luo Le, but it would need Huo Lanjing's authorization after the reset.

He had just tried to contact Huo Lanjing without receiving a response.

Yu Bing shouted, "Come on, the Admiral must be inside."

Luo Le summoned his ruined mech and flew toward the main military zone's entrance.

The insect swiped its claws, soaring behind Luo Le, almost within reach.

Yu Bing's heart tightened, and he quickly flew over. "Run!"

Luo Le dodged swiftly.

Yu Bing couldn't help but scold, "Where's your mech? Summon it! Do you plan to defeat that scaled insect with your bare body?"

Luo Le was still unclear about the chip issue and hadn't had time to program his mech.

He couldn't operate it at all in this situation.

Seeing no response, Yu Bing cursed, "You didn't bring your mech at all, did you? You lied to me? Why didn't you tell me earlier? There are so many mechs over there!"

Luo Le felt somewhat awkward. In a way, he hadn't lied to Yu Bing – he had indeed brought his mech.

Moreover, those mechas were nothing but scrap metal to him.

Just as he was lost in thought, Luo Le felt a sharp object pierce his back, followed by a searing pain. A sticky fluid trickled down, causing him to groan involuntarily and nearly lose his balance.

Yu Bing turned around, "What happened to you?"