On the other side, a portly drunkard brandished a bottle, his emotions running high, shouting, "Then go beg Goddora! What's the use of racial honor? Only survival matters! Those leaders are brain-dead. So many people die every time. My two younger brothers died in the army. All our efforts are in vain. We could have gotten Goddora's help, so why insist on being stubborn! Those superhumans are useless. If they really had any ability, they would have solved this Calamity long ago!"
The drunkard, his face contorted with disgust and his tone agitated, spoke with an air of superiority, criticizing the superhumans and the military for their incompetence. His words grew increasingly offensive, and this behavior of blaming others after reaping the benefits angered the other patrons. Superhumans and the military were heroes in the eyes of most civilians, and any questioning or insult would provoke public outrage. Several patrons immediately spoke up in anger.
"Everything you enjoy now was earned by heroes who risked their lives. What right do you have to criticize us!"
The drunkard scoffed, "It's what they should do. Capable people must shoulder more responsibility. If it weren't for the community's nurturing, they would just be ordinary people like me."
"You're disgusting! You should be sent outside the city to fend for yourself!"
The drunkard scoffed, "Even if the city falls, I'll be a civilian prioritized for evacuation; it won't be me who dies."
"You don't deserve protection at all!" The crowd became even angrier and more agitated.
The argument grew more heated, but Reldon, sitting by the bar, remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard a thing and didn't even bother to turn his head.
At this moment, a very young man, looking angry, impulsively pounced on the drunkard and started fighting with him. He was strong and powerful, pinning the drunkard down and repeatedly punching him in the face, causing blood to splatter everywhere. When the others saw the blood, they rushed to break up the fight and tried to pull the impulsive young man away.
"Lana, calm down!"
"Stop fighting! You'll kill someone if you keep going!"
Lana threw a few more punches before angrily getting up, only to be pulled aside. The drunkard, bleeding from his mouth and nose, had been thoroughly beaten and couldn't stand. Other customers gathered around to check on him; thankfully, the drunkard was only injured. Immediately, some people complained that Lana had gone too far. Lana lived nearby, and many of his neighbors were his neighbors. He was a strong, young man who wanted to join the army and was a supporter of military service.
Melos yelled, "You two get out of my shop and go home to calm down!"
Lana left looking indignant, and the drunkard was also carried out, bringing this little farce to an end.
Han Xiao turned to look at Melos and said, "I am Black Star. If you are interested in what I have to say, then come find me. I can solve this problem."
After saying that, Han Xiao called out to Reldon, and the two left the bar.
Melos's nonchalant expression gradually faded, his expression darkening slightly, his eyes flickering. He wasn't as indifferent to the future of his people as he had pretended to be.
This mercenary who calls himself Black Star may or may not be a true prophet. Even if he is, he might be deliberately fabricating prophecies to lure him into a trap. Everyone who acts has an ulterior motive, but Melos doesn't understand the other party's goal. Could he be after him?
The bar door opened again, and a burly man wearing a hood to conceal his figure approached the bar, his voice deep, "Give me a drink."
The hooded man raised his head, revealing his face.
Fagorna!
Melos looked surprised and said, "You never drink."
"Consider it a celebration that I'm back alive." Fagorna picked up Melos's bottle and took a sip. The two acted very familiar with each other. If others knew that the strongest Grade B superhuman in their race was so familiar with a small bar owner, they would be very surprised.
The two were childhood friends. Melos knew his childhood friend all too well; almost every positive adjective could be used to describe Fagorna: brave, upright, and responsible. After the disaster in Sunil, Fagorna resolutely became a mercenary to serve his people. Melos had always been jealous of Fagorna. Since childhood, his short-lived older brother Delphis, had constantly talked about how great Fagorna was next door; in his eyes, Fagorna was "the perfect child."
Despite some envy, Melo and Tushus secretly respected Fagorna. They honestly admitted they could never possess Fagorna's dedication. After his brother's death, Melos had lived a life of debauchery, indulging in idleness and neglecting the tribe's survival. He knew he was lazy, and even when his brother was alive, he often felt frustrated by his lack of ambition. Many thought his talent was similar to Fagorna's, yet he had been wasting his time. Now, Fagorna was a renowned guardian deity of the tribe, while he was merely an unknown figure.
He knew Fagorna; he was a very disciplined person and wouldn't break an exception without a reason. Melos frowned and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Fagorna smiled faintly, a bitter smile on his face— Melos had never seen such an expression on that resolute face before. He said softly, "Brother, I can't hold on any longer. I'm going to leave."
Leaving? Melos's eyes widened in surprise.
Fagorna said slowly, "The interstellar space holds boundless possibilities. Only by severing ties with the past can we move forward. I no longer want to be bound by my race. There are many warriors who share my thoughts. After this Calamity, we will never return."
"We have protected our people for long enough. Many friends have sacrificed their lives. Some people beg for our protection but take it for granted. This is not our obligation, and there is no need to continue. We have done everything we can. Perhaps the best outcome is for our people to accept Goddora's aid, so that no one will die in vain."
"Are you giving up too?!"
Melos was shocked. Suddenly, Han Xiao's words flashed through his mind. Could this be the division prophesied by that charlatan? Would the future of his race also be as he said, becoming dependent on Goddora and losing its lineage?
As if guided by some unseen force, Melos carefully considered his words before recounting Han Xiao's prediction about the consequences of Sunil accepting military aid. After listening, Fagorna's eyes remained unmoved as he shook his head, saying, "Living is the most important thing. As long as a person lives, their will will not perish."
Is that really the case?
But the Fagorna I know would never abandon his people.
You're still alive, but you've changed...
Seeing Fagorna's expression, Melos knew that Fagna was determined and could not be persuaded. Melos felt a mix of emotions. He had always regarded Fagorna as his most virtuous and upright friend, but now he could no longer look at his childhood friend with the same eyes. It was as if Fagna had become a stranger.
"Then why did you come to me to say all this?" Melos asked.
Fagorna swirled the bottle and said softly, "To be honest, I hate you. You have far greater power than me, yet you cower in the back and readily accept our protection... Never mind, I'm not going to say anything more. I'm just here to let you know whether you continue to run away or step forward is up to you."
Fagorna pulled down his hood and turned to leave.
Melos's expression was complicated.
The seeds had been sown, and Han Xiao didn't enter the city again. Instead, he stayed outside the city to carry out his battlefield repair work. As the Calamity entered its mid-stage, the battle became increasingly fierce, with all sorts of terrifying monsters taking turns to attack. He no longer used his physical body to traverse the battlefield but instead donned the Flying Serpent Mecha. Sometimes, when the repair sites were breached by wild beasts, he had to step in as reinforcement to fill the gaps. Among the mercenaries, his strength wasn't particularly outstanding. The only reason the other mercenaries remembered him was because the Black Star Mercenary Group had volunteered for field Reconnaissance missions. Many mercenaries thought Han Xiao was a madman, and that the mercenary group would definitely suffer heavy losses when the next field team rotation came around.
Every day, countless soldiers fell in battle, their mutilated bodies being transported back to the rear for identification. Many weapons and vehicles on the defensive perimeter were damaged, making defense increasingly difficult. Only the nine warships in the sky remained unmoved, never firing. The Sunil Race had limited resources and scarce energy for their warships. Only when truly powerful monsters appeared in the final stages would the warships join the fight. Moreover, the interstellar warships built by the Sunil could only orbit the planet's surface for three or four days at most before their energy levels dropped to a critical threshold. Besides guarding the skies, the nine warships' primary function was to ensure the evacuation of civilians in times of crisis, allowing them to abandon the main city and escape—essentially a escape route.
Seven or eight days later, the city entered a strange period of safety. The alarm, signifying the end of the Calamity, sounded again. This time, everyone was given breathing masks. Not only logistics personnel, but even some superhumans entered the facility for refuge.
Buzzing--
A deafening sound of flapping wings filled the air as a thick, dark cloud rolled in, filled with countless small, highly aggressive insects, swarming like a tidal wave.