Translator: CinderTL
The fleet surged through the waves, advancing toward the setting sun.
After a morning spent bustling in port, the fleet finally reached the black veil as dusk approached.
Without pausing, the fleet pierced through the black barrier.
The horizon suddenly widened, revealing the lush, verdant expanse of Heijue Island in the distance.
Feng Qi turned to gaze at the Lord of the Mist, who stood at the helm.
During their earlier discussions, the Lord of the Mist's plan for attacking the Heijue Domain Field was, in essence, no plan at all.
He intended to crush the domain field through sheer brute force.
Everyone else would merely serve as pawns in the Lord of the Mist's quest to seize the miracle item.
Their lives held no significance in his eyesโthey were merely cannon fodder for this operation.
The fleet continued its advance.
The churning propellers drew the attention of numerous sea beasts within the Heijue Domain Field.
Increasing numbers of sea beasts leaped from the water, some even approaching the warships and warships to deliver probing strikes.
Unlike the simpler warships, the warships were equipped with devastating psionic technology weapons.
Without waiting for orders from the Lord of the Mist, the commanders of each warship began directing combat operations.
Special metal spears, tethered by steel cables, shot from the warships' flanks, piercing the bodies of the massive sea beasts. Blood quickly stained the surrounding waters crimson.
The scent of blood drove the sea beasts into a frenzy.
The smaller creatures, in particular, began actively attacking the impaled behemoths, tearing chunks of flesh from their bodies.
Many of the impaled sea beasts were reduced to mere skeletons in the blink of an eye.
In addition to the spears, each warship was equipped with thermal weapons, which now roared into action.
Machine guns roared, unleashing dense storms of spirit energy projectiles that scythed through the sea beasts blocking their path, reaping their lives in droves.
Yet some thick-skinned beasts merely flinched under the barrage, suffering no real damage.
Against these resilient foes, the warriors channeled their art magic into concentrated strikes.
Compared to their previous foray into the Heijue Domain Field, this voyage to the island proved far smoother.
Firepower is justice.
After several hours of sailing, the fleet approached the edge of the Heijue Domain Field.
It was clear this landing point had been explored multiple times before.
The shallow waters before the beach were littered with the wreckage of warships, their hulls torn and shattered, as if by the massive jaws and crushing blows of colossal sea beasts.
Many of the ruined vessels were already overgrown with moss.
Under the Lord of the Mist's command, the warships and smaller vessels began to approach the shore.
Well-trained warriors leapt from the warships, carrying mooring lines, and waded ashore to secure the vessels to the beach.
Once the ships were secured, the unloading of supplies commenced.
The duration of this expedition remained entirely unknown, but ample provisions were crucial for the success of their future operations.
As the day waned, twilight descended upon the bustling beach.
Tents were pitched, campfires blazed, and logistics personnel began preparing the evening meal.
Meanwhile, large numbers of soldiers were deployed to patrol the edge of the rainforest, guarding against potential ambushes by intelligent domain creatures lurking within.
At the corner of the beach, the flickering campfire cast dancing shadows across Feng Qi's face.
The Lord of the Mist strode over and handed him a roasted leg. "What's on your mind?"
Feng Qi took the leg, tore off a large bite, chewed thoughtfully, and replied, "Old Mist, what do you think our chances are of reaching the pinnacle in the future?"
Sitting down beside him, the Lord of the Mist pondered for a moment before speaking:
"We'll likely die on the path to advancement. After all, countless groups like mine aspire to reach the pinnacle, but only a handful ever succeed. We might not even witness the Great Tide's Descent before being crushed in the competition with other powers, becoming mere stepping stones for their progress."
"Then why are you still pushing so hard?"
The Lord of the Mist glanced at Feng Qi, then shook his head with a smile. "I once swore to my clansmen that I would lead them to glory. That's the only vow I've ever made in my life. Even if the outcome isn't what I desire, I'll relentlessly pursue this goal... At least when we fail, I can ask myself without regret."
Staring at the Lord of the Mist's masked face, Feng Qi realized they were kindred spirits.
He wondered: If one day the only way to save humanity was to invade another world and exploit a weak, benevolent faction, would he do it?
Gazing up at the starry sky, listening to the crackling fire beside him, Feng Qi sighed inwardly.
There was no right or wrong, only different perspectives.
Ultimately, this realization solidified that he and the Lord of the Mist could never walk the same path.
The Lord of the Mist's group sought a future that fundamentally clashed with Feng Qi's mission to safeguard the future of Human Civilization.
As he gazed at the masked Lord of the Mist, an image of his own self from 1,500 years in the future flashed through his mind.
Then, with a smile, he said, "Old Mist, with your innate talent, I believe you'll one day stand at the pinnacle."
"Who knows? But if that day ever comes, there will always be a place for you by my side."
"Don't say that. We might become enemies over conflicting interests by then." Feng Qi couldn't help but roll his eyes at this remark.
"Hahaha, just tell me what you want, and I'll give it to you."
"How about your life?"
"If you wanted it, you could have taken it from the snowy forests of the Winterfrost District years ago. This life owes you, take it whenever you wish."
As they chatted, dawn suddenly broke on the horizon.
Their overnight rest concluded, the Lord of the Mist began organizing the troops for battle, then led the way into the Heijue Rainforest.
Visibility within the rainforest was poor, so the Lord of the Mist opted for a destructive approach.
He hacked down the dense vegetation along their path, clearing a route for the team to advance smoothly.
Following behind the Lord of the Mist, Feng Qi knew in his heart that this battle would be brutal.
A humanoid leader wielding a miracle item would be a formidable opponent. Perhaps nearly half, or even more, of the Joint Task Force would perish here.
Yet he didn't dwell on the sacrifices.
This struggle was an inevitable part of his villainous path. Obtaining intelligence would always come at a cost.
Hesitation now would only hinder the plan's progress.
Four days later.
After enduring numerous ambushes by humanoid forces, the team successfully reached the heart of Heijue Island.
Under the Lord of the Mist's command, the troops began to rest and regroup.
Feng Qi turned to look back.
After days of arduous marching, the eyes of the warriors behind him were weary, their armor stained with blood.
To reach the island's core, the Joint Operations Battle Group had lost at least several hundred soldiers.
Yet the Lord of the Mist made no effort to tally the casualties.
He simply didn't care about the deaths of these cannon fodder.
At that moment, the scouting team returned. Their captain approached the Lord of the Mist and gave a detailed report of their findings.
Feng Qi listened intently.
When the captain mentioned discovering a humanoid settlement ahead, Feng Qi knew the final battle was at hand.
Whether they could seize the miracle item would depend on this decisive clash.
After hearing the full report, the Lord of the Mist, for once, granted the warriors several hours of rest.
He then picked up his communicator and delivered a rousing speech, stirring the soldiers' hunger for victory.
As the rest period concluded, the warriors rose to their feet at the sound of the horn.
(End of the Chapter)
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