On the monitoring panel of the [Psionic Detection Field Generator].
The red marker was still darting rapidly about.
The mournful singing around them seemed to grow shriller and more piercing.
It sent a chilling sense of danger crawling down their spines.
"Trying to provoke me? You really think I can't deal with you?"
"Central Control Tower, issue the combat orders. Execute immediately!"
Lin Chen issued a mental command.
The Space Marines who had been guarding the various intersections.
Immediately sprang into action.
The fusion thrusters on their backs ignited.
Once these warriors of the Conqueror Legion reached their designated coordinates.
They opened fire on the numerous house-sized water towers.
Ratatatat...
Flames burst from the muzzles of their Gauss Electromagnetic Rifles.
Dense volleys of "Spike" armor-piercing rounds poured out like a storm of metal.
In an instant, they riddled the alloy shells of the water towers with holes.
Great torrents of water surged from the breaches.
"La la... la..."
The eerie singing that echoed through the Space Station.
Faltered for a moment, its pitch growing erratic.
"Keep going... blow every last one of them apart!"
"You love singing, huh? Let's take our time playing this game..."
The corners of his mouth lifted into a faintly unrestrained smile.
"Asta, I accidentally damaged your Herta Space Station."
"You don't mind, do you?"
"N-no... it's fine. A little money will cover the repairs."
Her response was somewhat dazed.
Asta's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as well.
There was something distinctly different in the way she looked at Lin Chen.
The Lin Chen before her seemed just a little unfamiliar.
That confident air, as though everything was under his control.
Held an inexplicable fascination for her.
Although she served as Herta Space Station's acting lead researcher.
Asta had never been a decisive girl.
Instead, she felt that Lin Chen at this moment.
Was like Madam Herta, someone she could trust and rely on.
Ratatatat...
The unbroken sound of rapid gunfire.
Disrupted the pitch and rhythm of the eerie singing.
Vast quantities of water poured out.
Flowing from the water tower area toward the central plaza of the loading zone.
"Stop hiding. Come out..."
"The ending won't change anyway."
Standing beside the psionic detection device with his hands clasped behind his back, Lin Chen.
Kept his gaze fixed on the intersection ahead.
"As a judge, let me give you some feedback. Your singing... is absolutely awful."
"Hm? Throwing a tantrum because you're helpless?"
"Want to kill me? I'm right here! Come get me if you've got the guts!"
Listening to the increasingly frenzied, piercing singing.
Lin Chen took a deep breath and began taunting it outright.
Whether these uncanny beings could actually think.
He had no idea.
But things had already reached this point, and there was no way back.
He might as well take this damned thing head-on.
As for the fighting.
He could leave that to the three Pathstriders beside him.
"La la la la la la la..."
The next moment, the eerie singing gradually rose in pitch.
Making everyone's eardrums sting.
The roar of surging waves swept toward them like a tidal deluge.
[Communications lost with Space Marines 0014, 0016, and 0019.] [High-threat target approaching rapidly. Host, prepare your strategic deployment.]
The system's notification sounded in Lin Chen's mind.
Once battlefield operations began, the coordinates of the Conqueror Legion's soldiers.
Were all clearly displayed on the central control console's panel.
Lin Chen noticed that in the center of the water tower area.
The communication markers of the soldiers who had been establishing defenses there suddenly went dark.
"All Conqueror Legion soldiers, fall back and defend the central plaza of loading zone B4!"
After a moment of surprise, the exceptionally sharp-minded Lin Chen.
Immediately issued the appropriate combat order.
Losing three Space Marines in an instant stung him.
But analyzing the situation before him also yielded plenty of useful information.
First, that uncanny being was probably in a physical state.
The soldiers of the Conqueror Legion possessed wills of absolute steel.
They obeyed only his commands and could not be controlled, disrupted, or enslaved by any outside mental force.
Those three Space Marines who had lost contact must have been destroyed through physical means.
Second, the monster at the source of this uncanny phenomenon was not to be underestimated.
It could instantly tear apart legion warriors clad in power armor.
The strength it possessed had to be terrifying.
It was definitely not an uncanny creation on the same level as the [Bloodstained White Dress].
"March 7th, Arlan, and Asta."
"In the coming battle, show me your resolve and determination."
"Don't worry... I'm here. That thing won't get out of hand."
Lin Chen stood beside Reynolds with his hands clasped behind his back.
And spoke with a stern, serious expression.
Showing off was an easy thing to get addicted to.
The arrival of the Conqueror Legion had undoubtedly given his three companions.
A tremendous shock, both visually and mentally.
What he needed to do now was steady his teammates' confidence first.
He had already pissed that damned thing off anyway.
With his current capabilities, he had no chance of making a getaway.
He might as well act unruffled and maintain his image of mysterious power.
"Rest assured, Senior Lin Chen. Even if I die here today."
"I'll use every last bit of strength to avenge our fallen brothers!"
Moving in a blur, he took up a position in front of Lin Chen.
The youth with short, gray-white hair stood resolute and brave.
The Alloy Warblade in Arlan's hand erupted with dazzling cyan lightning.
As the head of the Space Station's Security Department, he had seen his former colleagues die for no reason.
Arlan felt nothing but boundless hatred for that uncanny creation.
Even without Lin Chen saying anything, the brave Arlan would have put his life on the line.
"Though my strength is limited, I'm still willing to fight to protect Herta."
"If everyone on the Space Station never wakes up, how could I live up to Madam Herta's expectations?"
The gaze in her beautiful, lake-blue eyes turned fierce.
Gripping the Staff fashioned from an astronomical telescope.
Asta strode forward as well and stood to Arlan's right.
"Huh? You're all done talking?"
"The Nameless of the Astral Express press ever onward. No hardship will stop us."
"I promised to keep you safe, and I always keep my word!"
"Even if... you might not need my protection anymore..."
Her lips pressed together slightly in a faint smile.
A fleeting trace of loneliness flashed through March 7th's dreamy pink-and-blue eyes.
She took her place in front of Lin Chen.
With that, the strongest fighters in the Herta Space Station area had assembled.
What awaited them was the arrival of an unknown storm.
Looking at the formation before him, Lin Chen suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
It seemed he ought to join the team too, to make it more complete.
Hmm... a combat squad should have four people.
As for why?
He had no idea either. Perhaps it was just instinct.
Before you continue