Barren Star – Chapter 63

Will you defend my life?

Endless flower fields adorned the barren planet, brilliant and dazzling flowers swaying in the wind like layers upon layers of waves.

After the meeting ended, Hua Zhuoyu sat alone on the long bench, her shadow stretched extremely long by the setting sun’s twilight. Her brows slightly furrowed, those calm eyes held bewilderment, regret, sorrow, self-reproach… various emotions intertwined, like a layer of gloom shrouding her, only dispersing slightly after she let out a melancholic sigh.

            

She raised her head.

The brilliant sunset glow was gradually devoured by blue-gray, within that darkness, stars emitted their light one by one.

She inevitably thought of Jian’an Star, which she had sentenced to death. Among this enormous price, the only thing that could be considered fortunate was that this planet barely had any inhabitants, eliminating the need for a dangerous mass interstellar migration.

            

“Is it over?” Ning Buyi pushed open the fence gate, entering the neat, vibrant courtyard. She saw the suppression and worry on Hua Zhuoyu’s face. In Hua Zhuoyu’s silence, she sat at the other end of the long bench and sighed, “Your mood isn’t good.”

“Perhaps it’s because of the responsibility I carry.” Hua Zhuoyu pursed her lips, wanting to force a smile for Ning Buyi, but she quickly found it futile. She gave up the pretense of smiling. “According to the reports sent back by satellites, Jian’an Star’s dark pollution levels are increasingly rising, the planet’s quality is getting worse and worse.”

“Are you going to Jian’an Star?” Ning Buyi held Hua Zhuoyu’s slightly cold hand, her eyes flickering with something indescribable. Jian’an Star had already become a battlefield, sooner or later it would become a dead star. However, this time the Mountain and Sea Atlas hadn’t issued her any missions, perhaps after upgrading, the Atlas wouldn’t need to personally visit to allow the planet’s will to return to “Mother’s” embrace. But if Hua Zhuoyu went, she would consider following.

            

“There’s no need.” Hua Zhuoyu shook her head, after pondering for a moment, she continued, “Not everyone in the Star Court agrees with this war. I promised them this would be the last time. My hands may not see blood, but they are equally cruel.” As she spoke, Hua Zhuoyu withdrew her hand, but Ning Buyi noticed her small movement and hurriedly held it down.

“Do you regret it?” Ning Buyi asked again. She thought she was the only one feeling uneasy and worried, never expecting the usually resolute Hua Zhuoyu would also hesitate.

Hua Zhuoyu gripped Ning Buyi’s hand in return, answering without hesitation: “No regrets.”

            

“With the special medicine, perhaps we can enter the Mythical Forbidden Zone. If the problems there are solved, the entire star system could completely revive, right?” Ning Buyi feigned casualness. The Star Network’s research on the “Mythical Forbidden Zone” was good, but the rumors were bizarre and strange. Ning Buyi didn’t know what the “Mythical Forbidden Zone” had become, but she could guess something from the Mountain and Sea Atlas’s seriousness. The special medicine probably wouldn’t work against the source of pollution. To truly enter the Mythical Forbidden Zone, they would have to wait until the oak tree matured.

Hua Zhuoyu actually didn’t believe the special medicine could support the Navigators entering the Mythical Forbidden Zone, though she couldn’t say it was completely useless. At least it could help them persist longer during that lengthy journey. She met Ning Buyi’s eyes, seeing “hope” in those eyes that shone like stars. She didn’t want to discourage Ning Buyi at this moment, so she nodded and said: “Yes.”

“The situation is gradually improving, we should relax a bit.” Ning Buyi smiled, raising her eyebrows.

            

Hua Zhuoyu stared straight at Ning Buyi, her body slightly leaning forward, drawing closer to Ning Buyi as she whispered: “How should we relax?” She kissed Ning Buyi’s lip corner, smiling, “Like this?”

The light kiss was like a warm breeze sweeping through a flower field.

Warm breath scattered across her cheeks, the suddenly shortened distance also constrained Ning Buyi’s vision. After a while, she finally raised her hand to touch her soft lips, blinking as she smiled: “Not a bad way to lighten up.”

            

Happiness rippled in Hua Zhuoyu’s eyes as she and Ning Buyi quietly nestled together in the sunset.

Sunset, dark night, then dawn arrives.

Every day was such a cycle, every day was the sprouting of hope.

            

On Jian’an Star.

Aircraft in the sky dropped photon bullets, emitting a series of flashes. Such bombardment was earth-shattering, yet often posed no great threat. Regardless, it would always end in close combat. Human warriors relied on their mechas, while the Insect Race and Beast Race relied on their innate gifts. Countless resources were consumed on the battlefield, and in an exceptionally brief time, both sides tacitly pressed the pause button.

The solid fortress developed gap after gap, with traces of shells and flame scorches everywhere.

            

The Insect Race general Ke’er Limo stood on the watchtower gazing into the distance. His gaze passed over Da Xia’s fortifications, toward a more distant place not yet within his sight.

“Huo Lamu hasn’t returned, there hasn’t even been any movement.” Ke’er Limo frowned, feeling a trace of panic at this result. Huo Lamu and his group had made firm promises before leaving, but Ke’er Limo’s heart remained filled with unease. He could feel the dark pollution on this planet getting increasingly severe, his subordinates becoming frenzied and uncontrollable, sooner or later they would reach the edge of collapse. If Huo Lamu could successfully obtain the special medicine, perhaps it could ease things somewhat, but if they couldn’t—Ke’er Limo shook his head, clearing away the stray thoughts. They were troubled by dark pollution, Da Xia’s side should be the same.

“The Empire’s reinforcements are continuously arriving at the battlefield, with our forces, that slight advantage will soon disappear.” The speaker was a bearded middle-aged man, dressed similarly to ancient pirates, with two strange mustaches. He wore an emblem of intertwined skulls and flowers—he was Lu Yisi [陸易思 | Lù Yìsī], the leader of the Demon Phantom Star Pirates.

            

Since beginning the war with Da Xia, many star pirate groups had contacted them, but most only attempted to extort money from him. Only the Demon Phantom Star Pirates actually arrived at the battlefield. Ke’er Limo looked at Lu Yisi, and after a moment spoke flatly: “The Mother Insects are gestating Insect Race warriors, as long as there are sufficient resources, they can quickly grow to the point of joining the battlefield.”

“That’s wonderful.” Lu Yisi’s tone was impossible to tell whether it was flattery or praise. He stared at Ke’er Limo, without much intention of being diplomatic, and suddenly changed the subject, “What if there was another method to strike at them?”

“Oh?” Ke’er Limo responded with intense interest.

            

“Bacteria.” Lu Yisi said with a smile.

Ke’er Limo frowned: “In this era, most bacteria have lost their effectiveness.”

“You said ‘most.’ What about pollution? Dr. D has developed a bacteria called ‘Abyss’, which can make Da Xia’s warriors go berserk.” In Lu Yisi’s career as a star pirate, his greatest prize was “Dr. D”. This was a genius madman who had dedicated his life to “dark pollution” research, and their pirate group had obtained numerous powerful weapons from this.

            

Ke’er Limo didn’t care about morality, he only cared about the Abyss bacteria’s effectiveness and price. Having dealt with Lu Yisi for a long time, he knew nothing could be obtained for free. After leaving with the Insect Race rebels, he could no longer receive financial support from the Insect Star, all these expenditures had to be paid by himself. Currently, the money plundered from Jian’an Star could support them, but what about in the long term?

In the Da Xia military.

The commanders and generals were in a meeting.

            

The number of people sent to Jian’an Star this time was similar to that at Giant Sickle Star, but they found they had underestimated their opponents. Thus, after suffering setbacks, they immediately requested more military support from the Empire. They didn’t want the flames of war to affect other planets. After formulating their strategy, someone muttered “dark pollution,” and the entire conference room suddenly became deathly quiet.

They had recently received a warning from the Star Court.

The dark pollution on this planet was violently sweeping across the globe, becoming a dead star was its inevitable fate. This meant the risk of warriors being exposed to dark pollution had increased.

            

“How is the Elpis experiment going?”

“I heard the Sprout Laboratory base was attacked by criminals, the Imperial government is investigating.”

“Those wine sacks and rice bags don’t know sh*t.”

            

“Could it be the Insect Race attacking in secret?”

…

The generals discussed the mysterious attack on the experimental base, but actually didn’t take this matter to heart. Because for them, winning this war was their only responsibility. However, an incident several days later raised their concern about “Elpis” to its peak!

            

The Insect Race’s bombers appeared in the sky, and after being intercepted by shells, the bombers exploded mid-air, scattering large amounts of deep blue powder. With a gust of wind, this powder scattered across the entire battlefield! In Da Xia, shortly after children are born, they are implanted with immune robots, relying on these operating robots they could be immune to most medicinal harm, which had caused “bacterial warfare” to exit from warfare. They had never seen the Insect Race use such methods in the past, but this time was different.

Soldiers who accidentally inhaled the powder suddenly became frenzied and irrational, their symptoms similar to beasts completely eroded by dark pollution. They easily associated the bacteria with “dark pollution.” It should be known that “dark pollution” was taboo in all civilizations, how could they deploy it on the battlefield?! Da Xia’s commanders deeply realized one point—these insects had become even more insane.

After the news reached Da Xia Imperial Star, His Majesty residing in the deep palace couldn’t sit still, personally contacting the Insect Race Queen, Beast Star Alliance’s four heads to initiate a summit. Although the Insect Race madmen were bloodthirsty and frenzied, in the past they had a bottom line, but now it was proven they had crossed that line without any reverence.

            

“Your Excellency, do you want us to die like past civilizations?” His Majesty’s tone was full of condemnation, he slammed the table violently, roaring at Hall, “Cease fire, we must cease fire!”

“Your Excellency has perhaps found the wrong person.” Hall calmly looked at Da Xia’s emperor, speaking unhurriedly, “Strictly speaking, I am no longer the Insect Race Queen. The person you should be talking to is my foolish sister. Oh, no, she has now gone missing, becoming the rebels’ banner.”

The Da Xia Emperor, exhausted by recent events, could no longer maintain his composure when facing his most despised Insect Race: “What do you filthy insects want to do?”

            

The highly insulting words had no effect on Hall, who still maintained her gentle smile: “The Insect Race members outside are rogues and rebels, they have been expelled. The Insect Star’s treasury won’t provide them with a single Star Element. Speaking thus, Your Excellency should understand? As for researching the Abyss bacteria, I think that soft egg [軟蛋 | ruǎn dàn | meaning: coward] Ke’er Limo doesn’t have such capability.”

The Insect Race Queen directly logged off after speaking these words, ending this brief and ridiculous summit. From the Beast Star side, Feng Yi, who was attending in place of her mother, showed an apologetic smile before also logging off. Rather than listening to the Empire’s emperor rant here, it would be better to contact Ning Buyi to see if she had any good solutions. There were also Beast Race warriors among the alliance forces on the battlefield, they couldn’t just watch them being tormented by the “Abyss pollution”.

On Mountain and Sea Star.

            

After learning the news, Ning Buyi’s face was full of disbelief. “Dark pollution” wasn’t targeted at any specific race, but swept through the entire star system. Even if relations between great civilizations were poor, there was still a consensus. But now that consensus had been broken by crazy rebels.

“Is the Insect Race’s disorder really a good thing?” Ning Buyi appeared deeply worried.

“Partial madness is better than having a queen who controls the entire race going mad.” Hua Zhuoyu answered.

            

At this moment, Ning Buyi had received several requests, some from Xia Sang, some from the Beast Race, and others from the Imperial government and the Supervisory Department. They kept pressing about the progress of “Elpis.” But even if it met the standards for market release, there was no way to provide sufficient quantities in such a short time.

“We can only produce as much as possible.” Ning Buyi rubbed her temples, somewhat troubled.

But Hua Zhuoyu saw further than Ning Buyi, she pursed her lips and said coldly: “Mountain and Sea Star should prepare to become a battlefield! There can’t be a cure that completely eliminates the Abyss bacteria. The Insect Race’s use of this weapon will surely backfire on them. Mountain and Sea Star has plants that can drive away dark pollution, has medicines being developed to treat dark pollution, there’s no better place than Mountain and Sea Star to alleviate their condition.”

            

“What?” Ning Buyi cried out in shock. Even knowing this event was in the plot, when it actually arrived, she still wasn’t prepared to deal with it. Once Mountain and Sea Star became a battlefield, it would waste over a year of her efforts! She didn’t know what would happen to the divine tree planted beside the house; if it withered during this process, the entire star system would lose hope!

“I think the plants’ growth is due to your own ability. If that day really comes, I hope you’ll leave Mountain and Sea Star with me.” Hua Zhuoyu added.

Ning Buyi raised her eyes to stare at Hua Zhuoyu, speaking seriously and heavily: “I cannot leave here.” Her soul was bound to this land, she was the planet’s will itself, how could she abandon this planet?! “If Da Xia and the Beast Race Alliance forces intend to make Mountain and Sea Star a battlefield, I won’t provide them with any medicine. When all those who started this war die from going berserk, this war will naturally end.”

            

“Why?” Hua Zhuoyu’s gaze was confused and puzzled, “I can apply for other planets for you, transfer all the territories under my name to you.”

“This is different!” Having received such bad news, Ning Buyi was even more agitated and uneasy. She waved her hand at Hua Zhuoyu, wanting to vent her anger, but when she met those eyes again, she suddenly suppressed her frustration. “I won’t back down on this matter,” Ning Buyi said. On this issue, she showed extraordinary stubbornness and obstinacy.

Hua Zhuoyu saw the anger on Ning Buyi’s face and softened her tone: “But there will be danger here.”

            

Ning Buyi raised her voice: “Then don’t let them come!” How could the dangers on Mountain and Sea Star compare to those outside?

Hua Zhuoyu remained silent for a long time before saying softly: “Alright.”

Her calmness contained a hint of gentleness and indulgence, which made Ning Buyi feel a trace of panic; she was disturbed by the imminent troubles. She grabbed Hua Zhuoyu’s hand, meeting those eyes full of deep affection, and the frantically surging negative emotions gradually receded like the tide. “I’m sorry.” Ning Buyi apologized for her poor attitude, then immediately asked, “How will you stop them? Using your costly supernatural power?” Ning Buyi inexplicably thought of the “mysterious crisis” detected by Beidou.

            

“This is what I should do.”

“Nothing is ‘should.'” Ning Buyi steadied herself, “I can handle it.” Let those invaders lose their fortune and die in the stellar storms? Or perhaps be covered by endless sand, ending their desolate lives? Ning Buyi thought, her heart surging with malice toward the “destroyers”.

Hua Zhuoyu shook her head: “Beidou’s abilities are ultimately limited.”

            

Ning Buyi said: “Can’t I rely on myself?” She raised her eyes to gaze steadily at Hua Zhuoyu. As if after a long time, yet also like just an instant, she secretly made a decision. Pulling Hua Zhuoyu to sit on the sofa, her tone became inexplicably deep, “You are the Chief Judge, can you sense this planet’s planetary will?”

Hua Zhuoyu: “I can only vaguely sense the planet’s vigorous vitality.”

Though it was a barren star, its “heart’s” rhythm was more steady and healthy than civilized stars. All planets were aging, only it radiated vitality, trying to break free from its predetermined fate.

            

“I cannot abandon this planet. As the Planet Master, I share a common destiny with it. In every sense, I will be with it. Without it, there would be no me. It might be the future of the Greedy Wolf Star System, but right now, it is tangibly my future…” After stripping away chaotic emotions, Ning Buyi’s tone became incredibly peaceful.

Hua Zhuoyu, as the judge of planetary fates, had more or less encountered traces of supreme existence. From Ning Buyi’s words, she formed an absurd guess.

The Star Court stored numerous star cores. They were all incarnations of planetary will, but they took various forms, perhaps just an inconspicuous stone, or maybe a swaying flower… But no matter how the planetary will changed, in the past, it had never manifested in human form.

            

“It is my life.” Ning Buyi finally concluded.

She suppressed her excitement and anticipation, looking at Hua Zhuoyu with calm eyes: “Will you defend my life?”

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LP: I take this as a proposal

            

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