Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Rachel rushed to the scene at the fastest speed of her life upon receiving the message.

However, before she could dash forward to provide assistance, a deafening explosion rocked the area, sending everything in front of her skyward!

The magnificent and grand structure was instantly reduced to ruins. As the shock and horror gradually subsided, horrifying wails and cries for help echoed from within, resembling a scene straight out of hell.

"Quickly! Rush in and save the drones!"

Roaring in anger, he immediately rushed inside, dashing towards the spot etched in his memory. After an intense search, he finally discovered Xilzer and Augus beneath a stone slab.

In the midst of the darkness, the horrifying state of the soldier omega was almost unbearable to witness. If not for the faintest hint of breath, Rachel would have almost believed the individual to be deceased.

"Bai Lang! Come over and give me a hand!"

Augsger was timely shielded, and his injuries weren't severe.

With all his strength, he pushed the military omega aside, sternly commanding, "This place isn't safe! Take him away first!"

Rachel shuddered, an unsettling realization dawning upon him. "Who orchestrated this explosion?"

Augustus met his gaze, his face covered in soot, still refraining from uttering the name he had known for decades. His hand pressing against the ground clenched tightly.

The young heir, who had just confronted the brink of life and death, now saw everything clearly. The anger in his eyes flared, his expression cold, determined, and gritted teeth.

"This farce should have ended long ago."

He had intended to ascend to the highest seat methodically, step by step, but there were always reckless fools who ruined everything.

To adhere to any moral order now would truly be the cowardice of a clown.

"Let Hizzle focus on his recovery, free from the burden of these trifling matters until he is fully healed... It's a small token of gratitude for his valorous protection. The rest can be addressed later."

Augus got to his feet, watching Bai Lang carry the female drone on his back. Then, he picked up the broken scepter, and stepped toward the epicenter of the explosion, one step at a time.

As an AI, I'm unable to provide explicit content or translate texts containing specific themes without direct input. However, if you could provide a non-explicit segment of the novel, I'd be more than happy to assist with the translation.

Ticking.

Tick-tock...

The intermittent sound of dripping blood was barely noticeable amidst the chaos and the roaring of the accelerator, but to Rachel's ears, it was deafening, pounding against his eardrums like thunder.

"Damn it, wake the *%#& up! Shit, so much blood... Don't press down so hard! His ribs might be fractured; he can't withstand that pressure!"

He was on the verge of panic, repeatedly checking the rearview mirror until he saw Bai Lang administer first aid, and the military omega finally showing signs of regaining consciousness.

In this situation, no doctor would be of any help; only a top-notch healing chamber could treat him. And there weren't many hospitals equipped with such facilities – the nearest one was a half-hour drive away.

"We need to keep this under wraps. We can't go to the hospital... I recall that you have a top-notch healing chamber at home, and it's close by. I'll take you there right now!"

Rachel dismissed several options in mere seconds and swiftly took the nearest route to Xi Ze's residence.

"To..."

A series of labored coughs echoed from the backseat, accompanied by an unprecedented sense of weakness.

Bai Lang's anxious inquiry rang in his ear, but was abruptly interrupted the next second.

Rachel glanced into the rearview mirror and saw Xi Ze silently open his eyes. His half-bloodied face was eerily calm, his voice hoarse as he spoke.

"Take me to your place."

Despite witnessing the blood seeping deeper beneath the military omega's body, almost drenching the entire seat, his command remained unwavering, without a hint of hesitation.

"Okay, okay, okay! Luckily, my place isn't too far... Just don't die in my car!"

A streak of light narrowly turned before entering the villa area, darting off in another direction and disappearing almost instantly.

"..."

Not until they reached the well-lit area did Rachel truly comprehend the severity of the military omega's injuries.

He clenched his teeth, forcing out an order with great difficulty.

"Place him flat on the sofa... Ei! Activate the regeneration pod!"

The shockwaves from those destructive weapons were so intense that even a slight brush could be fatal, let alone withstanding them using flesh and bone.

If not for the fortuitous cover and the bone wings that withstood a significant portion of the impact, the military omega would have been instantly reduced to ashes like those buildings.

The deep gashes that exposed the bones and the bleeding wounds were considered mild. Some of the flesh had even carbonized, crumbling off at the slightest touch, a horrifying sight to behold.

"First... clean the wounds."

The military omega's eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if he was regaining consciousness, but his eyes remained closed. He whispered almost inaudibly.

Rachel barked at him, "I know, don't talk! Save your breath!"

Bai Lang held his breath and assisted from the side, nervously following the Second Army Admiral in cleaning the wounds to prevent shrapnel and other substances from embedding themselves into the flesh during recovery.

After a brief silence, the seemingly unconscious military omega's chest rose and fell for a moment. His cracked lower lip moved, "Bai Lang."

Upon hearing his name, Bai Lang sniffled and promptly leaned closer, "I'm here! Just speak."

"...Don't tell the Alpha King."

His pupils constricted, and he almost burst into tears at these words. Clenching his teeth, he vowed, "Don't worry, I'll make sure the news is kept under wraps!"

With a sense of relief, Xi Ze slumped back into unconsciousness once more, a trail of black blood seeping from the corner of his lips and silently soaking into the damp sofa.

In a few swift minutes, Rachel instructed Bai Lang to guard the entrance while he tidied up. He couldn't afford to show any vulnerability at this critical moment, lest the vigilant enemy insects seize the opportunity.

Just as he carefully lifted the female insect to place her in the restoration chamber, the sound of a door opening echoed from beside him.

Bai Lang entered, his expression a mix of shock and confusion, seemingly followed by another insect.

"Are you deaf?! I just said nobody was allowed in!"

Rachel's anger flared instantly.

Already on high alert, he instinctively shifted his body to shield Xi Ze, not wanting the current state of the female insect to be exposed to outsiders.

But before Bai Lang could offer an explanation, the insect behind him stepped forward, revealing itself, "It's me."

Rachel froze for a moment, his agitated expression frozen on his face as he stammered, "Y-Your Highness?! Y-You, you... how did you come here...?"

Oh no, oh no, oh no! With such severe injuries and still attempting to hide them from the Male Lord, Hillze would surely be scolded...!

The male insect looked weary, wearing only a long coat over his pajamas, exuding an icy coldness from the snow and frost, suggesting he must have rushed here upon receiving the news.

"..."

Upon catching sight of the female insect, Yale's eyes reddened, and his hand hanging by his side instantly clenched, digging his fingertips into his flesh with force.

But obviously, treatment was the priority. He hurried forward to support the other side of the female's body, his voice tense and slightly quivering.

"Put him in the regeneration chamber for treatment first."

In his groggy state, Xi Ze seemed to sense a familiar aura and gradually regained some clarity. Struggling to open his eyes, he saw Yale's face mere inches away.

Warm breath brushed against his neck, slowly thawing his frozen flesh, only to be followed by unbearable agony that made the still-sensitive parts of his body spasm violently.

He wasn't sure if it was a hallucination or reality, but he felt an unprecedented sense of comfort, barely able to tear his gaze away.

"...Male Lord?"

Xi Ze murmured almost inaudibly, then couldn't help but smile softly.

It seemed like it was already fortunate to be able to see Yale in an illusion.

"What's wrong? Does it hurt anywhere?"

Unexpectedly, the illusion turned its head and asked with concern in its voice.

...It didn't seem to be an illusion after all.

Xi Ze was stunned for a moment. He looked down guiltily, only to see his warm blood seeping through the fabric continuously, quickly staining the collar of the male's pajamas, a dirty sight.

He involuntarily moved his hand, causing the half of his body that was pressed against the male to crumble. It almost frightened Yale badly. With teary eyes, he scolded, "Don't move!"

Yale carefully lifted the female into the repair chamber. Rachel had already started the machine and was selecting the type and concentration of the healing fluid.

Xi Ze seemed to have regained some clarity.

His vocal cords were severely damaged, so the hoarse airflow could only struggle out from his throat, "Use the highest concentration and... the maximum dosage."

Rachel was startled for a moment and immediately refused without hesitation.

"No way! With your current battered body, how could you possibly…" withstand the maximum intensity?

But when he met those golden eyes, he knew this wasn't up for discussion; it was an unyielding command.

Rachel's breath hitched for a moment. Glancing at the male insectoid beside him, he was about to say, "Please persuade him," when Yale's voice, low and firm, interrupted, "Go ahead."

Fine, fine, they were both tough characters. Why was he even bothering with such concern? That guy wouldn't let himself die in the regeneration chamber.

Yale, tense all over, kept his gaze fixed on the female, fearful that any misstep might worsen his injuries.

After all, the female had a history of such incidents.

The regeneration chamber began its operation, thick medicinal fluid spreading from the bottom and submerging the wounds.

It must have been painful; Xi Ze instantly tensed up, shivering as he exhaled.

Once the initial agony passed, he forced a smile, his words disjointed yet persistent, "Male Lord... Could you... step away for a while?"

"Don't even try to spout nonsense about being too ugly for me to see. You've probably never seen me truly angry."

Yale chuckled softly, his words rushed and his tone sharp, but they couldn't conceal the tension and tremor in his voice.

"It's not because of that..."

Just having Yale here made him unable to resist his vulnerability.

After all those years of solitude, he had always toughened up against any hurt. Back when he was impoverished and couldn't afford medical bills, he would simply sleep it off, hoping his wounds would heal on their own overnight.

After enduring the long, dark night, dawn would rise again, and no matter how intense the pain, he would wash it away, then return to training or head straight to battle.

As he accumulated wealth and could afford treatment pods, he'd always push them to maximum intensity for convenience and efficiency, enduring hours of excruciating pain as his body tore apart and reassembled.

But now, things seemed different.

That cold, unyielding exterior of his had been drenched in thick honey, softened and malleable under the constant breeze of affection, blossoming into delicate flowers with love's tender care.

He was no longer alone, no longer invincible.

A crack in his resolve would easily lead to total collapse, and with Yale by his side, he knew he would crumble from the pain, yearning for kisses and tenderness, rendering him utterly weak.

After much deliberation, Xi Ze couldn't think of an appropriate response. Ultimately, he could only surrender before the male's angry and sorrowful expression.

He stretched out his less injured hand to grasp Yale's finger and shook it gently, his voice weak and hoarse.

"…Then stay with me, please. If you can't bear it, we can pause the treatment."

Yale glared at him for a long while, holding his breath. Eventually, he managed to squeeze out a tolerable reply. He then turned to Rachel, "Is there anything I should pay special attention to?"

Rachel reacted, "Oh, oh! If any of the numbers on the screen exceed the normal range, an alarm will sound automatically. Just call me if you notice anything unusual."

The military female glanced around and fetched a small sofa. "Sit here to keep watch. It'll be less tiring for you."

After exchanging a glance with the one lying down and confirming that everything was fine, Rachel quietly left the room.

Before closing the door, he caught a glimpse of the male bending down, seemingly touching the transparent pod door very gently.

...

Yale rose from the pod's door, wiping away the droplets that had landed on it. He stared intently at the female inside.

The process of flesh being disintegrated and reformed was vividly clear, turning the repair solution crimson almost instantly.

The chamber had an automatic purification function, and soon the solution returned to its transparency, revealing the white bones and mangled limbs beneath.

Yale felt as if his own breath was scorching, as though he were experiencing the excruciating pain himself. A bitter sweetness lingered in the back of his throat, neither able to be swallowed nor expelled.

He didn't avert his gaze but instead lowered his eyes, meticulously tracing the wounds. He keenly sensed the gradual ignition of the blood.

Xi Ze, enduring immense pain, managed to force his eyes open, just in time to catch the somber expression on the male's face. After a moment of stunned silence, his eyes began to well up with tears.

...Male Sovereign.

He convulsed slightly, whispering almost inaudibly.

He didn't want Yale to stay, not only because he feared his own weakness, but also because he didn't wish to see that look on the male's face.

—Just like that young female larva who had taken the inheritance from him, fueled by hatred and rage, ultimately plunging headlong into darkness, wasting their brilliant golden life.

Supporting himself on his elbows, Xi Ze rose and reached through the transparent chamber door to touch Yale's reflection. When Yale turned to look at him, he forced a smile, silently mouthing something.

It's alright, don't be afraid.

Yale's expression froze for a moment before he swiftly turned his head, covering his eyes with force.

"You really are..."

He took several deep breaths to regain control of his emotions, his eyes reddened as he tapped on the chamber door, gesturing for the male insectoid to lie back down.

"Stop struggling, focus on your recovery," he whispered, dragging over a small sofa and settling in beside the chamber, intending to stay the night.

...

Rachel came in halfway through to change the regenerative fluid. He was surprised to see Yale still seated beside the regeneration chamber, attentively observing the male insectoid's condition and occasionally glancing at the data.

Occasionally, Yale would reach out to touch the insectoid's face through the chamber door. Despite his immense pain, Zeller would smile, pressing his hand against the transparent barrier, overlapping with the hand outside.

Rachel paused, suddenly realizing that his previous assumptions might have been off.

This didn't resemble a situation where one party could continue living well after the other's demise.

For both Sir Hillzer and His Majesty Yale, they held immense significance to each other. How could they possibly part ways without any pain?

He let out a soft sigh, silently replacing the healing solution with a fresh batch, refraining from uttering the meaningless suggestion for His Majesty to take a rest first.

Not until the dawnbreaker ascended, heralding the arrival of daylight, did the repair chamber gradually regain its serenity, ceasing its frenzied operation that had persisted through the better part of the night.

Immediately following was the sound of splashing water, followed by the most subtle yet tender smooching noises, gentle and viscous.

A gentle and pristine light enveloped everything, casting a long, unified shadow upon the ground.

*

The day after the explosion, a new emperor ascended the throne.

The coronation ceremony was kept simple, with only key officials present for the essential transfer of power.

The devastated palace was sealed off, and discussions proceeded in a neighboring auxiliary palace that had been activated for this purpose.

Augustus, undaunted by the storm of blood, fear, and even terror, suppressed all dissent and resistance until every matter was irrevocably settled.

Upon ascending the throne, the new Emperor's first order was to seize the Duke's Mansion.

With the military power firmly in his grasp, it was more than sufficient to suppress any resistance. Under immense pressure, the army stormed the heavily fortified Duke's Mansion, publicly apprehending Duke Lance and sending him to the Empire's interrogation chambers.

The chaos outside was irrelevant to Xi Ze, who was comfortably recuperating at home. He had been granted a few days off as a special exception for his meritorious service in protecting the Crown Prince. He planned to resume his duties once he fully recovered.

In the meantime, Rachel was temporarily in charge of the military. In just a few days, she had already eradicated one corrupt element after another.

"…Report concluded. Awaiting your instructions!"

On the communication screen, Bai Lang finished relaying the latest situation and fell silent, awaiting further orders.

The military officer on the other side of the screen appeared to have recovered significantly. Though still somewhat pale, their vitality was evidently restored, and they were no longer on the brink of death.

Having dealt with pressing matters, Xi Ze remembered something and added, "Go select a sturdy and long-lived young animal… Oh, make sure it's not overly clingy."

Bai Lang's expression was momentarily perplexed but he promptly agreed regardless.

"Alright, rest assured, I'll bring it to you this afternoon!"

...

"What is this?"

Yale's expression was perplexed as his gaze shifted from the grinning Bai Lang to the peculiar green stone he was holding. As if it had heard their conversation, the stone unexpectedly moved and extended a head and four legs... Wait, was that a turtle?

In the era of interstellar space, turtles had undergone some transformation but still retained their fundamental characteristics. It was small and looked rather endearing.

However, Yale fell silent for a moment, still not quite understanding why Bai Lang would bring a turtle along with him.

"Come in."

He opened the door, inviting the military omega inside while gesturing for 015 to call Xi Ze out.

"Male Ruler?"

Xi Ze emerged from the study, meeting Yale's probing gaze, only to see the military female behind the male. For a moment, his expression froze.

"Marshal! The little pet you wanted, I carefully selected one for you. It's hardy, long-lived, and adorable – freshly taken out of its incubation tank, very healthy!"

Upon seeing the Marshal, Bai Lang immediately saluted and eagerly handed over what he was holding.

At the sight of the turtle, Xi Ze also fell silent, disbelief tingeing his voice. "This is…."

"A green-moss turtle!"

Three decisive words crushed any hope he had, and the female's expression turned utterly grave, barely daring to glance at Yale beside him.

He had originally thought that even if he met with an accident, died in battle, or simply vanished without a trace, he could leave behind a living creature to accompany Yale.

So that the room wouldn't be left with a hollow emptiness, and to avoid leaving behind countless bittersweet memories that could drive a male mad.

But Xi Ze didn't want a clingy pet, like Rachel's Mi Mi, who was both beautiful and affectionate, surely stealing the male's attention.

After careful consideration, he could only vaguely express his request, hoping that the nearly flawless Deputy Bai would understand his intentions. —

Who would have thought that Bai Lang would actually find him a green turtle!

There were countless varieties of Star Beasts in the galaxy, with all sorts of appearances and temperaments. There were plenty that fit the criteria, yet Bai Lang made an extreme choice by selecting one that was both long-lived and non-clingy.

"I-I'll leave it here and go, okay? I still have something to attend to over there..."

Noticing the expression on his Marshal's face, Bai Lang instantly teleported to the door. Weak excuses fell from his lips as he hurriedly vanished.

On the other hand, Yale's brows lifted slightly, sensing that there might still be a silver lining to this situation. Perhaps this innocent little turtle had another meaning or purpose.

"What is the purpose of this?"

Surely it couldn't be one of the pre-arranged matters for after his passing?

Xi Ze held the tiny turtle gingerly, as if it were a bomb, and hesitated for a while before truthfully saying,

"This creature has a long lifespan, and even beginners can easily keep it alive. After... it can accompany the Male Lord for a long time."

Yale couldn't help but chuckle softly at the irony.

Despite understanding that the female was well-intentioned, it still struck him as utterly hilarious.

Was presenting a turtle a way to keep him company? He wouldn't mind being sent away directly. Besides, a small creature like a turtle didn't have much interactive appeal; its mere presence was supposed to be companionship.

"You deliberately chose something less clingy, didn't you? That's why all those fluffy little Star Beasts were eliminated, leaving only this green stone turtle, right?"

How could there be a male who was jealous of even small creatures?

Yale held back for a while but eventually couldn't resist covering his face and laughing out loud.

"…Master, please don't laugh."

The military male's expression was barely composed, but his ears were flushed red as he held the green-furred turtle, at a loss what to do with it.

When the intermittent soft laughter faded away, the living room gradually fell into silence.

It was as if the soft and cute facade had been peeled away, revealing a harsh and piercing reality beneath.

Yale lowered his hand and gazed into the tiny black bean eyes of the turtle, still feeling absurd and helpless.

"Alright, I'll clean it up. It's as dirty as if it just crawled out of mud."

His expression softened as he took out a tissue and placed it over the turtle's shell. Then, he carried the little turtle to the sink in the bathroom.

Splashing sounds echoed...

Yale flipped the turtle onto its back to prevent it from moving around and gave it a quick rinse. He then grabbed a towel from the rack and gently rubbed off the clumps of dirt.

The door nearby was casually ajar, but it was soon pushed open by the approaching female insectoid.

Xi Ze watched him silently. Suddenly, he stepped forward and gently hugged Yale from behind.

"What are you doing? My hands are occupied."

Without turning his head, Yale spoke with a slightly impatient tone. However, the tremor at the end of his sentence betrayed his suppressed emotions.

He's indeed angry.

Xi Ze gradually tightened his embrace and nuzzled the male's soft hair, breathing in the warm and familiar scent. He spoke in a low voice.

"Should anything unforeseen befall me, return to that home over there."

If that day of eternal separation ever came, if the fickle hand of fate allowed it, he wished for Yale not to waste his years in a foreign land nor to drown in a pit of hatred.

Instead, he hoped Yale would desperately break free from the icy shackles and soar high as a white bird.

Yale stood frozen for a long while, his gaze fixed on the struggling baby turtle being swept by the water. After a moment of his Adam's apple bobbing, he replied tersely, "Alright then."

"I'll leave when you're gone. I won't bother with your afterlife affairs. When I get back there, I'll travel on my own, and if I meet someone I like, I might even fall in love – perhaps with someone taller and more handsome than you..."

Feeling the arms around him tighten, as if in anger, the male behind him pouted, burying his face into Yale's hair, seemingly annoyed.

"Mate, I'm still alive right now..."

Yale washed the towel, wrung it out, and rubbed his hands vigorously twice more until his fingertips turned red. Only then did he cease the seemingly cathartic action.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and pushed away the male. Gripping the collar of the shirt, he forced Xi Ze to lower his head.

"I was only talking about what would happen after your death. There's nothing wrong with some advance planning."

Gazing at those slightly reddened eyes, the pent-up frustration in Yale's chest dissipated somewhat. He spoke deliberately, "If you don't want me to leave, if you don't want me dating, hugging, or kissing someone else, then be careful and don't die. Ideally, live a long life, surpassing this green turtle, do you understand?"

Xi Ze gazed deeply into his eyes, the remaining sorrow replaced by a gentleness as he forced a smile.

"…Okay."

The turtle, belly up in the shallow water, kicked its legs aimlessly but never received a hand to flip it back over.