"What is this place?"
His unfocused pupils slowly came into focus. Qin Tian blinked and looked around in confusion.
Steel walls gleamed with a chilling light. Rows of people in identical black uniforms stood in neat formation, solemn and silent, like lifeless statues without a trace of life aura.
Wasn't I playing games at home? How did I end up here?
Qin Tian instinctively opened his mouth to say something, but just then, a memory hidden deep within his brain surfaced.
I am Clone No. 89757, a third-generation battlefield clone from Alpha-7.
My mission is to be loyal to the Empire and the military, obey my commanding officer's orders, and take up arms to eliminate all enemies who dare attack us.
The brief stream of information was like a drop of water merging into the ocean of Qin Tian's memories from the past twenty-odd years. It stirred not the slightest ripple.
Clones, Empire, weapons...
Qin Tian lowered his eyes, and a wave of intense anxiety and panic rose within him.
I actually transmigrated!
And why does this identity sound like cannon fodder?
Tap tap tap.
The crisp sound of leather shoes striking the ground broke the silence.
"Recruits, welcome to this cruel world."
A tall, burly officer stood before the formation. He used no amplification equipment, yet his deep, resonant voice carried clearly to everyone.
"You are war machines created by the Empire. Loyalty and sacrifice are your fated lot, bestowed upon you at birth."
"Starting today, you will take up arms and fight for the Empire, fight for the people, and use your blood and lives to write an immortal chapter in the Empire's glory."
"Long live the Empire!"
Those final words seemed to trigger a switch deep in their souls.
In an instant, fervor and excitement blazed in the eyes of every clone. Their voices rang out in unison, nearly lifting the roof.
"Long live the Empire!"
The towering command tower rose like a colossal steel giant in the center of the camp. Lights flashed at its peak as it continuously sent streams of information to the warships and defensive fortifications around it.
Beneath the command tower, broad passageways radiated in every direction. The ground was paved with thick Metal Plates, and tracked vehicles and walking Mecha frequently passed by, leaving tracks of varying depths across the metal.
Tap tap tap.
The officer led thousands of clones out of the barracks. The mass of people in black uniforms surged out like a flood, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"This is the third batch of clones, right? Why are there so many fewer than in the first two batches?"
"That means the pressure on the logistics department must be enormous. They can barely keep making even cannon fodder like these."
"The situation's getting worse by the day. If this keeps up, we may have no choice but to retreat."
"Sigh. So many people have died. If we still have to hand our territory over to those disgusting Orcs in the end, I don't think I can accept it."
The distant conversation reached Qin Tian's ears. He realized that this body's abilities were exceptionally impressive. His eyesight was sharp enough to make out a small pebble dozens of meters away, and his hearing was keen enough to catch whispers from far off. His physique was robust, and even just clenching his fist let him feel the powerful strength coursing through him.
In his previous life, he would have been a weaker version of Captain America. Olympic gold medals in any event would have been within easy reach.
And yet here, he was what outsiders called cannon fodder.
"Haha, Raymond, you're just in time."
A man in a silver uniform jumped down from a black tracked vehicle and hurried to the front of the formation. He addressed the officer:
"I need people to unload the bodies and take them to the Morgue. Let these clones do the work for me."
"Fine."
Raymond nodded. In the military camp, handling corpses was an important duty, with higher priority than training new recruits.
"Good. Then follow me."
The man in the silver uniform leaped lightly onto the five-meter-high vehicle. He moved as nimbly as a bird, leaving Qin Tian staring in astonishment.
What was that?
Some kind of super Captain America?
"Everyone, double time!"
Officer Raymond shouted the order, then led the formation after the vehicle convoy. About twenty minutes later, they arrived in front of an enormous barracks.
"Move all the bodies inside."
Clack, clack, clack.
A mechanical hand extended from the vehicle, pulled out a corpse, then slowly placed it on the ground.
The clones lined up and took turns picking up the bodies one by one and carrying them to the designated room in the barracks.
Soon, it was Qin Tian's turn.
He lifted a man whose body had been severed in half. Dark red blood soaked the front of his chest, and the thick stench of blood filled Qin Tian's nose, nearly making him vomit.
Still, he forced himself to endure the discomfort and, like the other clones, completed the task with an expressionless face.
The first body, the second...
Gradually, Qin Tian realized he seemed to be getting used to the work. No matter how badly mangled the corpse in his arms was, even with its intestines exposed, his reaction was no longer as strong as it had been at first.
He never could have imagined that before.
Could this clone body's instincts be affecting me?
Qin Tian pressed his lips together, crouched, and picked up the next corpse.
Just then, he saw a green orb of light suddenly rise from the body. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, but the next second, the orb flew toward his chest.
Pop~
The orb merged into his body. Qin Tian stiffened for a second or two, then slowly stood and carried the corpse away with a blank expression.
[Name] Absolute Gun Sense (Green) [Type] Passive Talent [Description] The holder possesses an innate mastery of firearms and can predict a target's trajectory by taking the surrounding environment into account, enabling precise strikes.
Several lines of text appeared before his eyes.
Qin Tian lowered his head slightly, concealing the surprise and excitement in his eyes.
I knew it. How could a transmigrator not have a cheat?
As someone outsiders called cannon fodder, he had been extremely pessimistic about the future and thought he would struggle to survive in this brutal war.
But now, it seemed there was always a way forward.
This battlefield, filled with blood and death, might even be a place of opportunity for him.
Qin Tian quickened his pace, carried the corpse into the Morgue, then joined a less crowded line and took the next body.
The man was slender and wore a silver leather combat suit. From the outside, he didn't seem to have suffered any injuries. But when Qin Tian picked him up, he discovered that nearly every bone in his body was shattered. Even the slightest jostle produced a clacking sound from inside him, as if his bones were rubbing against each other.
Fortunately, the man had actually given him two Talent Orbs.
One green, one white.
[Name] Danger Sense (Green) [Type] Passive Talent [Description] The holder is like a battlefield prophet, able to keenly sense nearby danger and react in time.
[Name] Basic Knife Sense (White) [Type] Passive Talent [Description] The holder has an exceptional understanding and mastery of knives, allowing for more precise blade trajectories and fluid, natural swings.
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