Chapter 152 Truth

Chapter 152: The Truth

Viksto couldn't believe it. When had he released the virus?

He was just about to act on his murderous intent when he saw the two people across from him remove the control collars from their necks.

"How is this possible! Blaikalo, you..."

His furious question died in his throat when he saw Blaikalo's vacant eyes.

Blaikalo had been controlled...

How could it be?

There were supposed to be devices here suppressing psychic energy! To be safe, they'd used twice as many suppression devices here as they had during the Star Eagle blockade!

"You should maintain a sense of reverence toward the unknown."

Ji Anzhi wiped his mouth. He'd just spat out the poison and was feeling a bit rough.

After speaking, Ji Anzhi asked aloud, "How's it going?"

'It's done. All destroyed. Just like you said, their external defenses were tight, but once inside, they were much looser.'

There weren't even many psychic suppression devices—less than a fifth of what was in that other room.

They took precautions, but they were half-hearted.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have failed to detect the biological Space Bracelet stuck to the bottom of the cleaning robot.

Ji Anjue's psychic energy was attached to the Space Bracelet, so the robot couldn't detect it. At the same time, he controlled the cleaning robot to run throughout the entire base, shattering the virus vial Dad Ji had given him earlier, sweeping up the glass shards, and then moving to the next location to repeat the process.

Dad Ji developed this one himself. By the time they found out, it was already too late.

'I'm outside. I've disabled all those devices. There's no danger.'

"Mm."

The moment he finished, the door Ji Anzhi had entered through earlier opened, and a cleaning robot came in, not too fast or slow.

It approached the crystal panel, and the next second, the panel shattered into powder. The robot calmly made its way to Blaikalo.

Viksto intended to take out his energy gun and shoot at the cleaning robot, but when he tried to reach for it, he found he couldn't move at all.

Dread washed over him. For the first time, Viksto felt such a strong urge to flee.

Ji Anjue's body was lifted by an invisible force, floating in mid-air. The next moment, his body rapidly grew, taking on the form of the blond man Qi Yanshen knew.

Viksto wanted to say something, but he was so shocked he was struck speechless.

Naked, Ji Anjue walked toward Ji Anzhi. But after just two steps, Qi Yanshen threw a blanket at his face with such force that Ji Anjue nearly got a nosebleed.

Qi Yanshen's face darkened as he covered Ji Anzhi's eyes so he couldn't look at the completely naked Ji Anjue. His tone was cold, tinged with a hint of sourness, "Get dressed. Ji Anzhi is my partner."

Qi Yanshen: "He's also your mom. Put it on."

Ji Anjue: "…………"

Ji Anzhi: "Pfft…"

Ji Anjue reluctantly wrapped himself in the blanket, not because of Qi Yanshen, but because Dad Ji had said before that not wearing clothes would cost him snacks and pocket money.

Hastily wrapping the blanket around himself, Ji Anjue forgot what he had wanted to say to Dad Ji. Instead, he turned his gaze to the two alphas he had immobilized.

Xiaoxue immediately jumped out of Dad Ji's lap and walked over to stand by Ji Anjue's feet.

'I want to know the truth too.'

Ji Anjue picked up Xiaoxue.

He flashed a smile identical to Ji Anzhi's and asked, "Do you think someone will come to save you?"

Facing Viksto's gaze filled with rage and killing intent, Ji Anjue continued, "Unfortunately, those people outside are probably lying on the ground moaning in pain. The only ones left who could save you are the betas and omegas. Tell me..."

Ji Anjue suddenly beamed an angelic smile and said cheerfully, "Do you think those betas and omegas will come to save you?"

Viksto didn't believe Ji Anjue's words. His subordinates were elites comparable to military academy graduates. And how could there be an acute virus that only infected alphas?

But no one had come yet, which made Viksto doubt.

After speaking, Ji Anjue paid no more attention to Viksto. He focused on Blaikalo, determined to uncover what had really happened back then.

While Ji Anjue searched for the memory fragments he wanted, Ji Anzhi, finding that the Space Bracelet could now be used normally, took out a reclining chair and sat down.

Having just performed two space jumps in a brief period, even with genetic repair fluid and various supplements, his body couldn't handle it. He now felt completely drained.

Qi Yanshen asked a question he hadn't had the chance to ask before: "What did you feed me?"

"A vaccine."

Qi Yanshen understood. No wonder An Jue said the alphas outside were moaning in pain, while he felt nothing.

Qi Yanshen suddenly crouched down and said out of the blue, "Anzhi, am I useless?"

Ji Anzhi opened his eyes, puzzled. "What's wrong?"

"I haven't been of much help."

Ji Anzhi was confused. "Why does that matter? Besides, we're still young. There's no need to be so hard on ourselves."

Qi Yanshen lowered his head, seeming somewhat dejected. "But you're exceptionally talented in star charts, energy, viruses, and all aspects. I'm only good at mecha and command..."

And even these two skills, I haven't even had a chance to use them.

Ji Anzhi finally understood—Qi Yanshen was feeling inferior.

In typical AB relationships, it was usually the beta who felt unworthy of the alpha. But here, it was the alpha who felt unworthy of the beta.

Ji Anzhi patiently explained, "There's no need to overthink it. Everyone is born different, each with their own strengths. Just like in this world, it's because the weak exist that righteous strong individuals step up to shoulder responsibilities. We all complement each other."

"Besides, you're also very capable. It's just that your talent hasn't reached its peak yet. It takes time."

Qi Yanshen mumbled, "But you've already reached the highest point..."

Ji Anzhi sighed. What was going on?

He was suddenly acting like a child.

"It's not the same. Individuals have differences. Just because of this gap..." Ji Anzhi paused, suddenly having a thought. "You... you... are you entering your rut?"

Qi Yanshen moved his head back and forth, his expression unclear.

Ji Anzhi had a strange feeling—why was Qi Yanshen acting more and more like an omega?

Though... he was quite fond of it.

Ji Anzhi smiled. "If you're really that unhappy about it, why not prove yourself by becoming a marshal?"

Qi Yanshen didn't look up. "But you're leaving..."

"Isn't parting and reuniting just the way of life? Everyone has different goals and paths. Besides, as you can see, An Jue and I have no backing, leaving us vulnerable to schemes. If you really become a marshal, wouldn't An Jue and I be safer?"

After he finished, Qi Yanshen remained silent.

After a long pause, Qi Yanshen suddenly said, "I'll do my best."

Just as Ji Anzhi breathed a sigh of relief, Qi Yanshen added, "Then, after I become marshal, can An Jue be my successor? He actually meets the requirements too."

Ji Anzhi: "........"

Even when drowning, he still remembers to drag someone down with him.

Ji Anzhi replied vaguely, "We'll see about that..."

While Ji Anzhi was comforting Qi Yanshen during his rut, Ji Anjue also found the memories he was looking for.

After interpreting a few fragments, Ji Anjue saw his own kind, Xiaoxue's kind, and the sky-obscuring Bug Swarm...

'An Jue, open it.'

It was Xiaoxue. Their kind were naturally the guardians of Ji Anjue's kind, living in symbiosis.

Xiaoxue's kind provided the mental stimulation needed by Ji Anjue's kind, while Ji Anjue's kind reciprocated by helping Xiaoxue's kind rapidly advance their mental abilities.

The two races depended on each other for survival.

They lived and died together.

No matter how much they tried to escape, they had to face reality.

"Plop"

The crisp sound of a water droplet made Xiaoxue freeze, immediately looking up at Ji Anjue.

Ji Anjue lowered his head, his hair and the lamplight obscuring his expression, making it hard to see clearly.

"I miss home..."

"Everything was ready to go back... we even had the approximate location pinpointed... why..."

Glistening tears fell one by one, like pearls off a string.

Xiaoxue didn't know how to comfort Ji Anjue, because he felt the same way.

Ji Anjue's home was his home too.

Ji Anzhi walked up to Ji Anjue, stood on tiptoe, and hugged his golden, fluffy little head, saying nothing but gently stroking it over and over.

Ji Anjue leaned down, resting against Ji Anzhi.

(A certain jealous someone nearly ground his teeth to dust.)

As if finding a pillar of support, Ji Anjue's tears fell even more, soaking Ji Anzhi's clothes, while helpless sobs echoed in the room.

"I want to go home... Dad."

"The Star Eagle is gone, and home is gone too..."

"Everything was ready, I even had gifts prepared... we were going to leave after the Bug Swarm ended... Dad..."

"This must all be fake... all fake..."

Ji Anjue repeated his tearful complaints, even trying to deceive himself to escape reality.

Ji Anzhi patted Ji Anjue's back gently and unhurriedly, speaking with gentle firmness. "An Jue, you can escape and refuse to accept reality—that's your right."

"But the facts that have already happened—do you really want to avoid them for a lifetime?"

"No matter how much you avoid it, you can't change the facts. You can either pretend to be deaf and dumb and do nothing, or you can avenge your fallen kin. It's up to you to choose."

Ji Anjue remained silent, and Ji Anzhi didn't press him, continuing to pat his back lightly.

A few seconds later, Ji Anzhi's answer came in the form of Ji Anjue's tearful yet resolute words: "I want revenge."

Ji Anzhi let go, took a tissue from his Space Bracelet, and gently wiped away the tears, smiling. "Then go ahead. I'll support whatever you want to do. I'll handle negotiations with the Federation, so don't worry."

Ji Anjue, eyes red, nodded firmly. "I'll look at the memories first."

"Mm, it's fine. Those people outside won't die anytime soon, no rush."

After speaking, Ji Anzhi bent down to stroke Xiaoxue's head and asked, "Xiaoxue, do you need Dad to comfort you?"

Xiaoxue shook his head slightly.

'I can accept reality. After all, I found out two days earlier than Ji Anjue.'

Ji Anzhi rubbed the little white head gently. "It's good if you can accept it, but if you're really hurting, Dad allows you to cry in my arms."

Xiaoxue muttered softly, 'I'm not that kind of weak cat.'

"Mm-hmm, have you looked at the memories yet?"

'...Not yet.'

"Then learn the truth first, so you'll know who to settle scores with later."

'Mm.'

Ji Anzhi stood up and left, returning to his lounge chair. Before he could close his eyes, Qi Yanshen, whose possessiveness was peaking during his rut, took out a wet wipe and pressed Ji Anzhi down.

"Hmm?"

"You smell like someone else."

Ji Anzhi: "........"

With that, Qi Yanshen began wiping with the wet wipe. Even after Ji Anzhi's skin turned red, the scent remained.

Realizing the source of the smell was on the clothes, Qi Yanshen frowned. "The clothes smell."

Ji Anzhi let out a sigh. "There's nowhere to change clothes now. How about we use some pheromone suppressant spray?"

Hearing this, Qi Yanshen finally snapped out of it and found the pheromone neutralizer to get rid of the smell.

But how was Qi Yanshen able to detect a beta's pheromones?

While those two were causing a scene, Ji Anjue and Xiaoxue had finished viewing Blaikalo's memories.

Five years ago, Blaikalo led a team attempting to breach the insect hive, wanting to discover what substance was triggering the insectoids' evolution.

They possessed all the former empire's experimental data on insectoids, along with some methods of resistance the Federation lacked. Arrogantly, they decided to continue the former empire's experiments, leading to such a reckless move.

They succeeded.

Of ten warships, six made it out of the hive and took some samples with them.

But the insectoids were enraged, triggering a Bug Swarm.

Because insectoids clung to the starships, even hyperspace jumps couldn't shake them off. They were in a near-constant state of flight.

During their journey, they passed by Ji Anjue's homeworld.

They made a brief, two-day stop on the planet where Ji Anjue's clan lived.

Originally, they only sought a habitable planet to replenish supplies and food reserves. However, they detected powerful psychic fluctuations, extending their planned half-day stay to two days.

During those two days, they looted the planet until they encountered Ji Anjue's kin.

The humans never expected such strange plant life, nor did they realize the plants were launching psychic attacks. Their team had no omegas; they only sensed a vast, chaotic, and highly aggressive psychic energy.

In the end, the humans didn't fare well, capturing only a few of Xiaoxue's kin and Ji Anjue's kin before beating a hasty retreat.

First, they were overpowered; second, the Bug Swarm was approaching.

Before they left, an overwhelming Bug Swarm surrounded Ji Anjue's homeland.

Later, the Divine Tree disguised itself as an ordinary shrub. Upon reaching a safe location, it suddenly attacked the humans, allowing three of Xiaoxue's kin to escape.

The Divine Tree was also discovered to be anomalous, but before the humans could study it, the tree erased its own consciousness.

Finally, unwilling to give up, Blaikalo returned to the planet where the Divine Tree had been. It was barren, covered in rubble and sand, with no trace of life...

Ji Anjue watched it all numbly, his fury rising steadily.

Lifting his gaze to the two culprits before him, Ji Anjue flashed a smile as bright as the sun.

"So that's how it was~"

Yet Ji Anjue didn't rush to act. Instead, he turned to Ji Anzhi. "Dad Ji, why don't you go out first to contact the Federation? Let them know we're safe?"

Ji Anzhi nodded and led Qi Yanshen outside.

As soon as they stepped out, they saw two alphas lying at the door.

The alphas' exposed skin was ulcerated and oozing pus, emitting agonized moans. Their alpha pheromones filled the air, chaotic and nauseating.

The smell was too overwhelming. Ji Anzhi felt sick, and Qi Yanshen, in his rut, was even more uncomfortable.

So they put on filtration masks and headed out.

Along the way, betas and the occasional omega were at a loss, as only fallen alphas were in sight—seemingly on the brink of death. Some lacked even the strength to moan.

But Ji Anzhi knew these alphas wouldn't die soon.

They appeared severely afflicted, even immobile, but in reality, their muscle nerves were malfunctioning, leaving them uncontrollable. Persistent nerve spasms would torment them until death.

Ultimately, they would die from infections due to untreated abscesses.

But An Jue would likely need more time. He couldn't let them off that easily.