Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 733

Chapter 733

Chapter 733: Confluence

Once Zeus-1’s wheels were safely on the tarmac Lan Jue, Jue Di and the Pharmacist disembarked . Lan Qing, the Wine Master and the Clockmaker were waiting for them . The welcoming party was not big, but not small . Of course they weren’t there to welcome Lan Jue, he knew . They were there for Jue Di .

Lan Jue walked forward quickly and with a pleasant smile . “Wine Master! It’s been a while!”

The Wine Master stared back at him with a flat, cold stare . He breezed right past Lan Jue and bowed before Jue Di . “Your Majesty, we’re sorry for troubling you . ”

Jue Di waved him off . “It’s no trouble running after my own boy . Find me someplace quiet, and call me when the fighting starts . ”

“Indeed, we already have something prepared for you . Aunt is there waiting for you, I’ll take you there . ” The Wine Master rose and lead the way personally .

The Pharmacist walked over to Lan Jue’s side and nodded respectfully to the Clockmaker . “I’m sorry . All of this was my fault . I’ve caused a lot of trouble . ”

The Clockmaker smiled back at her . “Misfortunes may sometimes be a blessing in disguise . What is done is done . Come, everyone is waiting for you . ”

Lan Qing walked over to Lan Jue, then . He patted his brother’s shoulder and offered a nod of acknowledgement for the Pharmacist . He said nothing, just turned and left, as cool as ever .

The Clockmaker led the two of them to a verticar . After clambering in Lan Jue spoke . “How’s the situation?”

“Unclear,” she answered with a low voice . “But we think the people on those four planets…”

Lan Jue’s face darkened . After so long, the chance of finding any survivors was close to zero . Five percent of the total human population, gone in a blink of the eye .

The Clockmaker went on . “The enemy is cunning . They’ve turned the four planets into defensive fortresses with a huge number of aliens standing watch . They’ve managed to completely cut us off from any information . The North has attempted several scouting sorties but all have failed . Some of their Bastions have also tried to get close enough to harass them, but have been repelled by the defenses . The commands are also hesitant to bring their ships in too deep for fear they’ll be trapped . So, we find ourselves in a stalemate . Full-on assault is our only option . ”

Lan Jue frowned as he thought . He hadn’t anticipated their foes might lay a trap like this . If they relied on the normal aliens alone they would be no match for bastions and their fleets . But, by virtue of the four planets as advance guard, no one knew the condition or actions of the alien planets themselves . If the planets were not yet distracted by their evolution an attack would be dangerously premature . No one could tell how much power their enemy would bring to bear .

“What’s the North’s plan?” Lan Jue asked .

She obliged . “After hearing you were on your way His Majesty the Terminator has chosen all-out assault on the enemy position . Whether or not the planets have begun their evolution, now is the time . Our hands are tied, but the North has faith our bastions can effectively fight back . This isn’t the Starfields, its home territory and they don’t have the benefit of cover . Representative forces from every Alliance has gathered here for the final charge . Even if the planets aren’t distracted, so long as they don’t teleport away we have a chance to rout them . ”

Lan Jue nodded in understanding . “So it is, but for some reason something doesn’t feel right . ”

“Oh? How so? Is there a problem with the information you’ve provided?” The Clockmaker asked, surprised .

Lan Jue shook his head . “No, the data we recovered should be rock-solid . It seems like they’re waiting for us to come in for the attack . From everything we’ve seen we know the monsters are intelligent . So far they’ve had the upper hand in every encounter . They must know the sort of power the Alliances plan to throw at them, but they’re just waiting? To say nothing of the fact it seems outside of their character . ”

The Clockmaker’s brows scrunched tight . “But the arrow’s already knocked . It wouldn’t make any sense to call it all off now, unless we can get some reliable information on the planets themselves . ”

Lan Jue’s voice was resolute . “I want to try . Can we tell the North to let us try a scouting mission? We’ll slip passed the enemy’s lines and find the planets . Once we confirm their status we can begin the attack . ”

“Alright,” she answered . “I’ll alert Admiral Lan . He’ll have the Eastern forces let the North know . ”’

Lan Jue nodded, determined to succeed . While other missions may have met with failure, he knew the monsters well . All of Star Division and his five Amazons would be called on . Between Lin Guoguo’s abilities, Zeus-1’s technology and their familiarity with the aliens, slipping through the aliens’ defensive encirclement shouldn’t be impossible . After all, Skyfire Avenue was lousy with Paragons these days . On top of it all they had the full might of humanity behind them . If they ran into trouble they could call for the assault to begin and use that to their advantage .

The verticar found its destination and settled to the ground . When Lan Jue stepped out, he was met with a sight that stirred him deeply .

Row upon row of smartly dressed Star Division soldiers stood in perfect formation . They snapped to attention the moment he appeared .

“Commander!”

Lan Jue stepped forward, standing before the fighting force he’d forged . His heart was filled with the mighty vigour that poured from them .

Standing at the fore were Skyfire Avenue’s Paragon, and another familiar face . A stooped figure, a head of white hair and a pair of sharp eyes drew his attention . It was none other than the one who forced the blood connection between he and Qianlin, the one who’d gifted him the Arrow of Compassion . One of the great Gods of Wine – Bize Lilou!

The Wine Master must have been successful in convincing her to help . However, absent was the other god of wine they’d met, Aubert de Villaine .

The Infernal Vanguard, Arcane Magnate, Karmic Scholar, Arhat of the Descending Dragon, and the Wine Master were all present . Of course, there was the Pharmacist and Clockmaker by his side . A host of Paragons .  1

The East’s representation in the world of Adepts could only be described as overwhelming . Do not forget that the Astral Phantom, Lan Qing, Luo Xianni and Jue Di also counted among their number . Ten Paragons arrayed for battle! That kind of power was able to shake the pillars of heaven .

Among them Lan Jue also felt another presence and a close friend . The Driver . He grinned at Lan Jue from the crowd . His gruff exterior had undergone a change, and the whole of him seemed more refined . Physically he was larger, and spiritually he was more restrained .

He broke through! He had become a Paragon, a fact that sent Lan Jue’s heart soaring . It meant an even stronger position for the East, and humanity . It was important to remember that he commanded yin-yang lightning, which made him stronger than your average Paragon . The Arcane Magnate and Karmic Scholarly likely wouldn’t beat him in a spar .

“I apologize for worrying everyone . ” The Pharmacist spoke, not waiting for Lan Jue to address his soldiers . She took a step forward and bowed low at the waist .

“Mama!” The clear voice rang through the air like a ray of sunshine, and a little body pushed her way through the crowd and into the Pharmacist’s arms .

The Pharmacist, a women wrought from iron, crumbled before the tiny girl . Tears streamed from eyes as she hugged Jun’er tightly to her .

Regret surged through her . “I’m so sorry, Jun’er . I’m sorry . Mama shouldn’t have left you, I won’t go running off like that again . I’m sorry, my baby . ”

Jun’er’s eyes were dry, her tiny face beamed a smile at her mother as she patted her back with a small hand . “It’s ok, mama, everything will be fine . I knew daddy would bring you back . We’ll be together forever . I missed you mama . ”

The Pharmacist kissed Jun’er’s cheek and didn’t speak further .

Lan Jue came over to the two of them and gently ruffled the girl’s hair .

The Wine Master interrupted . “No time for discussion . We need to prepare for the attack . How are you?”

Lan Jue paused . “I’m fine… what is it? Has the fight already started?”

The Wine Master nodded . “The North has alerted us that they will be starting soon . Star Division is to offer its support . We’re off to war . ”