Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 801

Chapter 801

Chapter 801: The Mission Continues

The alien home worlds’ main objective was not the destruction of humanity, but completing their evolution and establishing an immortal realm of their own . It didn’t serve them to wipe out the human species, and it was a task that would be much easier once they became god-like .

All the possible scenarios raced through Lan Qing’s mind . His train of thought was precise and clear .

Lan Jue and Qianlin had finally become Paragons, and Luo Xianni was now part of the Infinite . Both of these happy circumstances went better than expected . After breaking through Lan Jue was no weaker than the An Lun admiral himself . With the addition of his Harmonious Swords, he and Qianlin were incredibly effective on the battlefield, inferior only to Jue Di, Luo Xianni and the Terminator . The Northern Paragon would be hard-pressed to contend against their combined strength if ever he had to .

With their advancement the total strength of the human attack force soared . Their initial victory against the aliens had been achieved with minimal losses . But it remained to be seen if they could keep this momentum through the final battle .

“Report!” An anxious voice called out .

“Speak!” Lan Qing’s eyes popped open and turned toward the messenger . Current standing orders were to bring any important information to him immediately .

“We’ve just received correspondence from Scout Team 16 . They report two of the planets are no longer purple . ” As he spoke the messenger hurried forward and handed Lan Qing the data in his possession .

Lan Qing looked it over . A small smile spread across his face – his father was indeed Jue Di! The strongest human alive wasn’t just something they called him . If the purple color was draining from them, it meant the progenitors were dead and the planets were freed . Only Jue could accomplish such a magnificent feat in so short a period .

“Have we received any information from the scout teams heading for Europa?”

“Not yet,” the messenger replied . “They should be arriving at their prescribed location within an hour . So far communications seems normal, but they haven’t encountered anything out of the ordinary . ”

“Alright, let me know the instant we get any more intelligence . ” Information about Europa and the alien planets was paramount . They could only proceed once they knew more about the interior of the solar system and the presence of their primary targets .

As of the latest reports the routed alien forces had regrouped at two nearby planets . However, they’ve made no overtures to advance, as though they were intending to protect those two worlds in particular . One of those planets was the Terminator’s responsibility, and the other belonged to Lan Jue’s team .

No news was forthcoming from the Terminator’s strike force . Although, they did know they managed to successfully infiltrate the planet while Lan Qing was busy with the initial assault . Specific circumstances were not forthcoming .

Lan Jue and his people hadn’t moved on to their second objective yet . They were treating the mutated survivors of Angel .

The problem Lan Qing faced now was whether to concentrate or split his forces . Was it better to attack both clusters of enemies at once, or focus on one?

The aliens were not adept at long-range fighting, but they made up for it with incredible speed . Most human ships couldn’t outrun them . It was how their forces had managed to escape without being obliterated .

If he split his forces and the enemy set up an ambush it would put them in a dire situation . If he brought his forces to bear against just one group, the other one would be free to harass and possibly retake Angel .

And so, while their inaugural victory had been inspiring, the enemy had not been routed . The fight was more complicated than ever, and having experienced what a head-on engagement cost them it was difficult to assess how the aliens would adjust their tactics . They would certainly lean on their speed superiority, and to address that would force the human forces to give up advantage in other areas . This was a problem Lan Qing had to consider carefully .

“We bide our time, wait for an opportunity . ” Lan Qing muttered to himself .

Kang Hui had already contacted him once, asking if they should continue the assault . However, Lan Qing vetoed the idea . He chose to allow their forces to rest and reorganize in preparation for the next phase of their plan . He knew now wasn’t the time to rush in . They had to establish themselves on Angel first, then they could make their decision .

The enemy forces were a problem . He had to endure .

Although the alien planets were almost certainly in the process of evolving, moderation was integral . What he wanted was to create a situation where the aliens would be forced to initiate the attack, and fight on humanity’s terms . In this way they could hurt the enemy with the least effort and cost possible . Yet if they didn’t overcome the alien forces definitively, assaulting their home worlds would be impossible . Lan Qing saw the problem with acute clarity .

Beep-beep! His communicator buzzed .

“What is it?” He asked .

Lan Jue’s voice answered on the other end . “We’ve worked it out . There are no more infected humans on Angel . Who’d have thought Qianlin’s abilities would extend to this . Pretty lucky, eh?”

Lan Qing smiled . “You and your team rest for a little while, then continue your mission . The alien forces have split into two, and are hiding at the planets you and the Terminator are meant to liberate . I can give you a way in, but you’ll need to kill the progenitor quickly and get back as soon as you can . ”

“Relax, we have faith . ” Lan Jue’s voice was full of determination . Luo Xianni had now arisen to the same level as Jue Di – a powerful denizen of the Infinite . With the addition of Lan Jue and Qianlin after their sharp rise in strength, the situation was well within their ability to handle . What else need be said?

Zeus-1 had returned to the planet a while ago . It was waiting for Lan Jue’s team to continue the mission .

Lan Qing went on . “It’s wonderful that Qianlin’s protogenia can heal the afflicted, but I will remind you that they are not in a position to be saved yet . If you make that your priority you’re just putting them in danger . Your objective is the destruction of the progenitor and returning vitality to the planet . ”

“Alright, I understand . ” Lan Jue was clear on his role and his brother’s instructions . Their plan had been to clear and retake Angel, not any of the other planets . They didn’t have the soldiers for it . If they divided their forces it was just inviting disaster, he knew that .

A pale light flickered around him as Lan Jue grinned . He’d waited a long time for this day . He was anxious to show off his capabilities .

After disconnecting with his brother, Lan Jue, Qianlin and Luo Xianni returned to the arena . They gathered the other three Paragons, then contacted Mika and boarded Zeus-1 . It was time for them to leave for their second objective .

Lan Jue and Qianlin didn’t need to rest . Healing the afflicted had solidified Qianlin’s powers, and Lan Jue had also benefited from using her as a conduit . What’s more, Lan Jue was surprised to discover that Qianlin’s actions had empowered her with no small measure of faith-based force .

Without question, the Pontiff enjoyed the highest levels of faith among the human worlds . The Pontiff’s Citadel had scores of faithful and years of effort had cultivated a base of followers to support their organization .

Yet now the Western Alliance was all but wiped out . It was to be expected that their faith would be shaken . With Qianlin appearing as she did to deliver them from torment, convictions had quickly changed .

The benefits of the power of faith were largely a mystery to Lan Jue, but he was able to sense that Qianlin’s Domain was strengthening faster than his . Not only that, but her progress was stable and consistent . This was the benefit of the Queen of Heaven . She had no battlefield utility to speak of, her powers were designed for the salvation of mankind . Giving up one aspect enhanced another . Her strength and prestige were a reward for Zhou Qianlin’s pure nature .

Luo Xianni knelt quietly in a corner, recovering the energy she’d spent while also solidifying her recent advancement . It went without saying that Qianlin’s presence was immensely beneficial . Her Domain eased many of Luo Xianni’s concerns in breaking through, and served to help her stabilize her new heights of power .

As the three of them worked in tandem to heal the mutant humans, pushing Qianlin’s Domain to its highest point, Luo Xianni had be the most positively affected . Although it had cost her in energy consumption, the stabilization of her protogenia was critical . The more stable her powers were the easier it was to control them, so that she might deceive universal protogenia .

As she looked at Qianlin and Lan Jue, Xiuxiu’s eyes were gloomy . She had always been acutely aware of the difference between her and Qianlin . Now that her mind had recovered, she knew she had no chance with her boss . The other Amazons handled it better, her disappointment was deepest . But what could she do? Emotion wasn’t something you could simply will away .

Zeus-1 roared ahead toward the second planet they were to free . Lan Jue’s mind was on the information about their next destination .

The planet was somewhat smaller than Angel . It was pockmarked with splotches of black due to steady volcanic activity . Of all the eight planets, conditions on this one were likely the worst . It was a blessing in disguise that the human population was the smallest . Still it was a planet rich in natural resources which produced a great deal of rare metals, and thus was considered more important than Angel to the West .

Its proximity to Angel also influenced its naming scheme . The West called it Demon, as much for the poetry of it as for its special characteristics . Volcanic eruptions acted in much the same way mythical demons did .

Volcanoes brought destruction, but also new life . Volcanic ash was rich in mineral substances that nourished the earth, so the vegetation that did grow on Demon was rich in vital energy . More than most other planets .