I'm Back

Sakura Nation.

Pan-Pacific Defense Line Defense Force Command Center.

"Sir, the Category 3 kaiju Bladehead has invaded, with its target being Hong Kong, Nation Z. It is expected to arrive in approximately two hours."

"Understood."

Commander Tanaka Shin said, his eyes fixed on the screen.

Tanaka Shin, male, fifty-nine years old, a Lieutenant General in the Sakura Army.

He served as commander of the Pan-Pacific Defense Line's Sakura theater.

"Order the eleven fighters of the Nagasaki Squadron to prepare for takeoff and reinforce Hong Kong's defense line in Nation Z!"

"Commander, deploying troops outside wartime requires the approval of Minister Kishida. You do not have the authority to mobilize them."

Deputy Commander Yamashita Teru stopped him from the side.

"Outside wartime? Tell me, is this not wartime?! The largest kaiju ever recorded is attacking. We must hold the current Pan-Pacific Defense Line!"

"Commander Tanaka, let me remind you that you will retire in three months. The entire Defense Force Command Center is currently undergoing a transfer of power. I am the one with the greatest authority at this base!"

"Now, I will carry out Minister Kishida's orders: observe and wait."

"Nation Z has developed too quickly over the years and grown immensely powerful. It has made us feel greatly threatened, so we are happy to see the kaiju help wear down Nation Z's national defense strength."

Tanaka Shin was furious.

"Are you and that Cabinet minister of yours pigs for brains? This is war—a war that threatens humanity's very survival!"

"What good does it do us if Nation Z's Pan-Pacific Defense Line is breached?!"

"Use those pig heads of yours and think! If a gap opens in the Pan-Pacific Defense Line around Hong Kong, Nation Z, who will be the next unlucky one?!"

"Even if our Tango Wolf Jaeger has not been fully assembled yet."

"Still, even a little artillery support would be better than nothing!"

Yamashita Teru remained unmoved, his face full of mockery.

"If you think you can use the kaiju to drag down Nation Z, then I regret to tell you that you are dreaming."

After saying that, Tanaka Shin stood by the window and gazed in the direction of Nation Z.

"Nation Z is a magical country. It has created far too many miracles, and this time will be no exception."

"I hope you will not regret it when kaiju attack Sakura. And there is no need to wait three months. This old man will leave now and make room for you. I never want to see your disgusting faces—or that minister's—again!"

Nation E.

Pan-Pacific Defense Line Jaeger Combat Department.

Commander Kabrovsky watched the massive screen.

"Have Cherno Alpha stop its maintenance and stand by."

The deputy commander walked over.

"Commander, Alpha's pilots are the Chernobyl Couple from Nation U. They already have plenty of grievances against us. Unless the Siberian defense line comes under attack, they will not be willing to reinforce Nation Z now!"

"Now is not the time to fuss over national conflicts. Tell them that they are not fighting for us, but for themselves. Once the Pan-Pacific Defense Line collapses, casualties will be counted in the tens of thousands. Can they guarantee that none of those people will be their relatives?"

"Very few Jaegers can fight a kaiju alone and defeat it."

"A month ago, Virus attacked Sydney. Explorer intercepted it and was severely damaged. If Wanderer had not arrived with support in time, we would have lost Explorer. That would have been a massive blow to the entire Pan-Pacific Defense Line!"

"Therefore, Nation Z's Pan-Pacific Defense Line cannot fall, and Mount Tai cannot be lost either!"

"Only these four Jaegers in the world can still be deployed. This concerns the safety of the Pan-Pacific Defense Line. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Commander. I will go persuade the Chernobyl Couple at once. Alpha will be ready to deploy at any time!"

Kabrovsky looked toward Hong Kong, Nation Z, in the distance.

"I hope you can weather this crisis!"

Shatterdome Base, Dalian, Nation Z.

"Report, Commander. Bladehead has entered our South China Sea region and is expected to reach Kowloon Port within forty minutes."

"It finally came."

Mao Shucheng watched the footage of Bladehead advancing into the South China Sea.

Twenty fighter jets dispatched by the Guangzhou Military Region Air Force Command Center were currently engaging Bladehead.

The Blackhawk Squadron from Zhizhou, the U.S., had already returned due to insufficient ammunition and fuel.

However, fighter jets and escort ships from the South Sea Fleet were also nearby, holding Bladehead back through encirclement and supporting attacks.

Although the Jaeger Combat Department and the military usually disagreed, they would absolutely work together when faced with an external threat.

Under the powerful threat of a kaiju, no internal conflict mattered.

It was just that the kaiju that had come this time was on an entirely different level.

Against a Category 3 kaiju like Bladehead, this firepower was like children playing house. It was not even interested in stopping here.

It let the human forces bombard it freely.

It seemed that without using nuclear weapons, it would be difficult to deal Bladehead any meaningful damage.

"Where is Mount Tai now?"

"Report, Commander. The heavy-lift helicopter group has reached Fuzhou and is expected to arrive in Hong Kong in thirty minutes!"

"Set the route. Deliver Mount Tai directly to the waters near Kowloon Bay."

"Try to minimize the damage to Hong Kong!"

"Yes!"

Mount Tai's cockpit.

"Looks like you're a little nervous."

Xiao Shou nodded slightly.

It would have been a lie to say he was not nervous. Not only was this his first real battle.

He was mainly still unfamiliar with the neural drift connection.

They could not lose this battle.

The pressure was immense.

"Remember, let go of the past. Do not lose yourself in it."

Xiao Shou nodded and clenched his teeth. This time, no matter what, he had to make it through.

"Mount Tai, attention. You will arrive at the offshore combat zone in five minutes. Please prepare!"

Xiao Shou took a deep breath, exchanged a glance with Xie Yushan, and put on the neural drift helmet.

"The pilots are beginning the drift connection."

At the Command Center, Lin Yuxuan remotely reported on Mount Tai's internal status.

Mao Shucheng and Zhu Qian stood beside her, their expressions grim, though they were deeply nervous as well.

No matter what, this was only Xiao Shou's second dual-pilot drift connection.

It was not just the two of them. Jin Rong, and even every staff member currently stationed at Dalian Shatterdome Base, held their breath as they watched the large screen.

This concerned not only Hong Kong's survival, but also the entire Jaeger Combat Department.

They would rise and fall with Mount Tai.

It was that soul-tearing sensation again.

Although Xiao Shou had already experienced drifting twice.

He still could not endure that feeling, as though a giant hand had scooped him out of his own world and thrown him into another.

A world he had experienced before, one that was unbearably familiar.

Especially the scars hidden deep in his heart, which were torn open again and again.

That familiar scene appeared once more.

Shanlan's foot was about to come down.

The Old Director used all his strength to save Xiao Shou.

His face still held the joy of having rescued Xiao Shou, along with his reluctance to part with him.

That heart-wrenching sight carved through Xiao Shou's heart like a knife, over and over again.

Even though he kept repeating, "Let go of the past, let go of the past."

When he saw that scene, he still could not help losing control.

The words he muttered trembled and came out in disorder. He did not even know what he was saying.

"Warning. Xiao Shou's neural drift connection is extremely unstable. The fluctuations are severe!"

Hearing Lin Yuxuan's urgent report, everyone in the Command Center felt their hearts tighten.

But there was nothing they could do now. They could only pray that Xiao Shou would stabilize the drift connection.

Xiao Shou's eyes had turned blood-red during the drift connection. This was a sign that his neural drift value was too high and extremely unstable.

The Xiao Shou within the memory replay was also fluctuating violently. Faced with Shanlan, he instinctively assumed an attacking stance again.

He had completely forgotten the words he had been muttering: "Let go of the past."

"Child, how about you take my surname? As for your given name..."

"Mm, Shou!"

"Xiao Shou."

"Shou as in protect!"

"Protect our Orphanage, protect our country!"

Just as Xiao Shou was slipping into an unconscious rampage, he was awakened by that scene from deep in his memories—the conversation in which the Old Director had named him.

The surroundings shattered like fragments.

Shanlan, the city, even the Old Director, all vanished like a dream.

He vaguely heard someone calling.

"Xiao Shou!"

"Xiao Shou! Let go of the past! Return to reality!"

It was Xie Yushan calling to him.

The illusion within the bubble returned to reality.

"I'm fine."

"I'm back."