"Since the tactics have already been formulated, we should execute them as planned until variables arise that require adjustment."
Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Albert Montblanc stood on the command platform of the flagship, his stern eyes swept over the holographic sand table, and issued the final order.
"Order [Cold Gold Squad] to immediately execute the special operations mission codenamed 'Ground Penetration'."
Blackwood Star System, the fourth planetary orbit.
A special assault boat, double shielded by Optical Camouflage and radar invisibility, is quietly floating above the stratosphere of this green planet.
Sitting in the boat were five fully armed Arcanist - three men and two women. They were wearing pitch-black, close-fitting magic armor, and their faces were covered by tactical masks, revealing only a pair of calm and murderous eyes.
This is one of the most elite units in the Empire Ghost Legion.
"So, this is our mission?"
The man codenamed "Ranger" looked at the green planet on the screen and couldn't help complaining, "Skydiving from outer space? Come on, what age is this? Why do you still use such a primitive method?"
"Because this is a mission, Ranger. Don't chatter like a child who hasn't been weaned yet."
The strong man "War Wolf" sitting opposite him was carefully checking the Gauss Magic Rifle in his hand, and said something without raising his head.
"Shut up, War Wolf. I'm just raising reasonable doubts from the perspective of tactical efficiency."
Ranger turned over Byakugan, "With the transmission technology of our spaceship, we can directly transport us 'Beam Transmission' to the target toilet, and then stuff the bomb into the mouth of the blue-skinned king while he is shitting. Simple, efficient, and crude. Why do we have to engage in this high-altitude penetration?"
"Because this is not only a cleaning mission, but also a practical exercise."
A cold female voice interrupted the quarrel between the two.
The speaker was "Vampire", the vice-captain of this team and one of the only women. She was wiping two daggers that exuded scarlet light, her eyes as sharp as knives.
"Although the current enemies are a group of natives who only know how to play in the mud, we can teleport at will. But what if we encounter a strong enemy who masters [Spatial Lockdown] technology in the future?"
Vampire glanced at the team members coldly, "When we cannot use teleportation or call for orbital bombing, this traditional penetration and destruction capability is our last trump card to survive and complete the mission."
"What His Majesty the Emperor wants is an iron army that can cope with any extreme environment, not young soldiers who can only press buttons."
These words made Ranger shut up. Although he usually likes to complain, he clearly knows what the consequences of disobeying military orders in this Empire will be.
"Okay, the chat is over."
The silent captain "Shadow" stood up, and his voice was processed by a voice changer, sounding as harsh as metal friction.
"Target: Steel-Skin Folk First Interstellar Launch Center."
"Mission: Infiltrate, plant Antimatter Magic Bomb, and then evacuate."
"Three seconds countdown. 3, 2, 1... jump!"
The cabin door opened. Five black shadows disappeared into the clouds instantly like falling meteorites.
Steel-Skin Folk parent star, capital area.
Although the civilization of this planet is rough, it has shown the unique sense of grandeur of interstellar races.
Steel-Skin Folk is huge, with an average adult height of three meters. Therefore, their architectural style is also extremely wild and rough. Looking at it, the entire city is like a steel jungle made of countless huge metal blocks. There is no excessive decoration, only cold pragmatism and the worship of strength.
What's even more interesting is the color scale system here.
In this race, strength determines skin color, skin color determines status, and status determines what color house you live in.
Gray slums spread like moss on the edge of the city; yellow civilian areas constitute the main body of the city; green elite areas occupy the best areas.
And at the highest point of the city, there stand several huge golden fortresses--those are the palaces belonging to the fifth-level powerhouses (or the royal family close to the fifth level).
"It's a really hierarchical primitive society."
Ranger turned on the [Optical Camouflage] of the battle armor, adhering to the outside of the high wall of the launch center like a gecko, observing the situation inside through the tactical eyepiece.
"The guard distribution map has been uploaded. There is no magic detection device, only simple thermal imaging and infrared scanning."
"Received. Start taking action."
Like ghosts, the five-man team sneaked into this heavily guarded military location for Steel-Skin Folk, but in their eyes it was like a public toilet.
Captain Shadow was responsible for clearing the way. The hacking device in his hand paralyzed the monitoring system of the launch center in a few seconds and implanted a false signal that looped back normal images.
Vampire and War Wolf are responsible for clearing hidden whistles.
Pfft.
Before a three-meter-tall blue Steel-Skin Folk guard could raise the alarm, his throat was cut open by a dagger enchanted with [Armor-Piercing] and [Silencing] attributes. His skin, as hard as iron, was as fragile as a piece of paper in front of the Empire's advanced enchanted weapon.
The whole process was smooth and smooth, without any unnecessary movements or making a single sound.
In just ten minutes, the team successfully arrived at the core area - the fuel depot on the spacecraft launch pad.
Dozens of crude nuclear-powered spaceships are parked here, which is the hope of Steel-Skin Folk to reach the stars. Today, this place will become their burial place.
"The bomb is being planted."
Ranger took out a suitcase-sized device from the space backpack and skillfully attached it to the main fuel tank. "Set detonation time: 10 minutes. Yield: enough to send this base and half the city into the sky."
"Mission accomplished. Prepare to evacuate."
Shadow gave the order.
However, just when they turned around and were about to leave, something changed suddenly.
Buzz--!!!
A strange energy fluctuation that had not been recorded by intelligence suddenly erupted from deep underground in the launch center.
Immediately afterwards, sirens blared throughout the base.
"Has it been discovered? How is it possible?" Ranger looked at the surveillance screen in his hand that showed everything was normal, with disbelief on his face, "My hacking was perfect!"
"Not an alarm system."
Shadow turned around suddenly and stared at the huge gate leading to the underground, "It's some kind of... biological induction."
Boom!
The two-meter-thick alloy gate was blown away from the inside by a terrifying Monster Strength, hitting the wall heavily and making the entire fuel depot tremble.
The smoke dispersed, and a huge figure came out.
It was a Steel-Skin Folk. But he was different from all the Steel-Skin Folks I had seen before.
He is nearly five meters tall, and his skin is neither blue nor red, but a palpitating dark gold. On the top of his bald head is a crystal that emits a purple light. Countless purple blood vessels spread from the crystal to his body like tree roots, lighting up and darkening as he breathes.
"Intruder..."
The dark gold Giant let out a low roar, with a sense and madness in its voice that did not belong to this race.
"For the coming of our Lord... you must become Sacrifice!"
Feeling the terrifying aura on the opponent's body that was almost breaking through the Fifth Tier threshold, Captain Shadow's expression instantly changed.
"Damn it! The information is wrong!"
"This is no ordinary native! This guy smells like Outer God!"
"All personnel are ready for battle! Abandon covert operations! Allow the use of heavy weapons!"
At this moment, what was originally a relaxed "actual combat exercise" instantly turned into a life and death fight.