AWB Chapter 497 [Empire] Order
Chapter 497 [Empire] Order
Chapter 497 [Empire] Order
Time seemed to freeze at this moment, and the air was filled with uneasy silence.
Everyone stood straight, backs tense. Our gazes flickered from our teammates to the surrounding scenery before quickly returning to the front. No one spoke; everyone waited in silence. But the eager anticipation and anxiety overflowing from their hearts filled everyone with an inexplicable pressure.
The atmosphere on the field gradually grew dull. The original clamor had long since vanished, replaced by a subdued silence. Only the occasional sound of wind rustled through the cold air, gently brushing against the branches beside us. But this sound seemed increasingly abrupt and unsettling.
Every team member's breathing was distinctly audible; one could even hear the heartbeats of their classmates echoing in the quiet air. Some couldn't help but tap their wristbands with their fingertips, creating a crisp sound. Others shifted their feet unconsciously, as if unable to endure the silence. We were all waiting, waiting for the command, waiting for the battle that could come at any moment.
But the command never came. Time ticked by, and the commander's voice remained silent. The student standing next to me looked at me, eyes filled with confusion and unease. I couldn't help but tilt my head to glance at Qianmo. He also seemed a little impatient, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he too was waiting for something.
Suddenly, I heard heavy footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw the officers at the back of the formation engaged in a tense conversation, their hushed discussions interspersed with occasional silences. An older cadet whispered, "What's going on? What exactly happened?"
But no matter how anxious we all became, this tension remained unbroken. We all stood still, our gazes fixed straight ahead, our hearts filled with questions. The lack of any instructions only added to the oppressive feeling.
Everyone's body seems to be silently sending signals, telling them to be prepared to respond at any time, but they are delayed by this uncertainty and cannot completely relax.
The order finally arrived, like a thunderbolt, shattering the already oppressive silence. Although it wasn't the immediate engagement we'd anticipated, everyone who heard the news couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. A low-level insect swarm was invading the inner city, and the army had already marched to intercept them. Our mission as students was to evacuate and calm the people.
I lowered my head, a complex mix of emotions running through my mind. A low-level Zerg swarm sounds like a relatively simple task—after all, it's not as powerful as a higher-level Zerg horde, but it still poses a significant threat. The inner city, meaning it's not far away, means the battle could spread here at any moment. And yet, our current mission is to play a "logistics" role—evacuating the crowds and calming the anxious. Simple in words, but a real challenge. Especially at a time like this, the panic of the masses is even more daunting than the battle itself.
I took a deep breath, and the air seemed to grow heavier in an instant. I couldn't help but glance at Qianmo beside me. His expression was the same as mine, a bit stunned.
We, the rigorously trained cadets, hadn't even had a chance to fight, but instead had to calm a panicked crowd. This contrast made me feel a little disappointed. But I quickly forced myself to suppress the emotion. Our training wasn't just about fighting. Everyone shouldered a greater responsibility. At this moment, our mission was to minimize the unrest and protect the safety of ordinary people.
The team members around me began to react. Some quickly gathered their equipment, preparing for follow-up action; others began to whisper, discussing how to effectively evacuate the crowd. Although everyone appeared calm on the surface, I could sense the tension within, and even saw confusion and anxiety in some people's eyes.
I clenched my fists slightly, silently making a decision. Even if the mission was to evacuate, I still didn't want to sit idly by. The green seedlings and transparent vines were still in my backpack. I needed them to help calm the people as much as possible, at least to be able to do something, even if it was just a small amount of help.
Qianmo seemed to have seen through my thoughts. After a moment of silence, he said softly, "Are you ready?"
I nodded, my eyes determined, "I will."
Although our mission is different from a real battle, every step requires full effort.
I stood at the corner of the line, my gaze drifting unconsciously toward the distant city skyline, a hint of self-mockery rising in my heart. The me of the past—that sleazy mercenary—would never have cared about such trivial matters as calming the people and evacuating them? Back then, I was solely focused on making money, my mission, and each battle and victory. But everything before me was completely different. Here, there were no clear enemies, no exhilarating sight of blood splattered in my face. There were only a tangle of emotions, an anxious crowd, a silent and oppressive atmosphere, and even the things I could do seemed so insignificant.
As a mercenary, I'm used to fighting alone, controlling all actions myself. After completing a mission, I collect my reward, move on, and move on to the next. Every battle is filled with adventure and excitement, and the enemy is always my only target. But here, the difference is that we are military cadets, shouldering the responsibility of protecting others and our homeland. Every command could affect the fate of countless people, and I seem to have no external support except my own strength.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but sigh softly. Back then, as a mercenary, I didn't care about any of this. In the mercenary world, who has time to think about such things? Give me the mission, give me the weapons, and leave the rest to my reactions and actions. No matter how dangerous the mission, at most it would be just a few head-on confrontations, and success or failure would determine the outcome. There were no worries, only the strength I could rely on. Every battle was for money and honor. Today, although I still fight, the mission is no longer simple, and the responsibility is no longer limited to myself.
I rubbed my palms together gently, trying to clear my mind of these chaotic thoughts. I'd long known that becoming a mercenary was merely a transition. No matter how free and unrestrained I once was, those days would eventually be suffocated by the weight of responsibility. Now, standing on the grounds of the military academy, responsibility and mission loomed as ever, seemingly inescapable. Even with some resistance, I felt compelled to fully commit myself to these sudden changes.
"I'm no longer the person who can just run away at will." I whispered to myself with a hint of bitterness in my tone.
We stopped in front of the massive, church-like building. Its towering, imposing silhouette evoked a solemn atmosphere, like a heavy stone monument, almost suffocating. The building's exterior was constructed of thick, ancient stone, its cold gray darkened by age. Its tall, pointed windows, with a hint of Gothic design, seemed transported from another era. The clouds hung low in the sky, and the air was thick with the smell of rust and a tense atmosphere that almost made one hold their breath.
"You are responsible for guarding the gate." The instructor's voice was calm but serious, as if it was the norm for every order, without any personal emotion. "Until further instructions."
I looked up at the gate. The wooden structure felt particularly heavy, the ancient knocker still bearing the marks of time. On either side stood soldiers in black uniforms, their gazes stern and their movements decisive, leaving little room for doubt about their professionalism. Despite the grandeur of the surrounding buildings, there was no sense of ease. The air was thick with tension, as if a major battle could break out at any moment.
I couldn't help but frown slightly, a vague sense of unease building in my heart. "This is too easy, isn't it? Just guarding a door?" I thought silently.
Although it's just gatekeeping, my intuition tells me this mission is far more complex than it seems. The soldiers standing nearby have a habitual wariness in their eyes, and their well-trained formations even give off an invisible sense of oppression. Clearly, this isn't just a simple post for us. It seems we're guarding the building's perimeter, but these soldiers are the real power within.
On the one hand, I couldn't help but marvel at the countless combat training these soldiers must have undergone. The fighting spirit and murderous intent they exuded filled me with awe. Every soldier on guard stood straight, their gaze scanning the surroundings, seemingly never allowing for even the slightest negligence. Every bit of professionalism radiated, and I couldn't help but wonder how much my own half-baked training could handle.
On the other hand, I also understood that this mission wasn't about us playing heroes, but rather about us serving as auxiliary to these real soldiers. We needed to stand guard at the door, waiting for orders if something happened, and during this time, we were more of a "stand-by" than participating in the actual battle.
"Aren't we just going to change places to help out?" I sighed in my heart, with the corners of my mouth slightly raised, but with a hint of bitterness.
Behind every mission lie unspoken limitations. In the mercenary world of yesteryear, perhaps only one mission existed: to complete the mission. But here, it relies more on discipline, teamwork, and comprehensive foresight of potential future threats.
Looking at my classmates, I realized that no matter how strong we were, we would still be vastly outmatched by these heavily armed, well-trained soldiers. We had no experience, no equipment, and all we could do was obediently guard this gate and wait for orders.
The wind was unusually heavy with moisture, a dampness rarely seen on this frozen planet. The air was moist, with a slightly sticky quality that enveloped everything, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion. And that smell, with a strange, fishy sweetness, mingled with it.
I once smelled this kind of scent in a dim tavern on the capital planet.
I remember that time, under the dim light of the tavern, a group of mercenaries, their bodies stained with blood from years of battle, sat around a long table. A variety of smells wafted from the corners of the tavern, a mixture of tobacco, alcohol, and a subtle smell of decay—the most prominent of which was the unique fishy odor of Zerg blood.
That cocktail of Zerg plasma was as red as flame, with faint ripples of blood visible through the bottom of the glass. It had an intense, indescribable flavor: like bodily fluids freshly flowing from warm flesh, with a raw, bloody tang and a sour, astringent aftertaste. It was difficult to swallow, yet it made one want to sniff it again, even to taste its thrill. At that moment, I felt a subtle curiosity about the crimson liquid in the glass, but I also vaguely sensed a hidden danger in the flavor—as if some latent wildness was waiting to be unleashed.
Now, that scent reappears on this frozen planet, and I can't help but recall that experience. The blood of the Zerg, cold, sticky, and with an unsettling scent, lurks like prey in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike the fatal blow.
I took a deep breath. The smell was stronger than I remembered, like some creature that never saw the light of day, approaching silently.
Crunch—a piece of candy crumbled in my mouth, the crisp sound echoing in the silent air. The candy's slightly hard shell made it difficult to crack at first, but the tart flavor immediately burst forth, spreading like an electric current throughout my mouth, stimulating my taste buds. The sourness was layered, tinged with a hint of sweetness, seemingly dispelling the dullness in the air and bringing me a subtle sense of pleasure.
Whenever I'm feeling tired or down, I like to sneak a few of these sour candies. The taste satisfies my appetite, but it's more of a psychological satisfaction. It's so sour that it almost makes me wince, yet it's also intoxicating. The sourness seems to penetrate my troubles, dispelling every trace of heaviness. Though fleeting, it serves as a stark reminder: some things can be overcome with just a bite.
I quickly popped a few candies into my mouth and secretly swallowed them. As the candies dissolved in my mouth, my mood quietly improved. The sour taste gradually spread across my tongue, bringing me a little clarity and a little strength.
The tartness of the candy gradually faded, replaced by a delicate fragrance, elegant yet refreshing. It was like the air after the morning dew, fragrant and tinged with the unique sweetness of candy. As the sourness faded, the aftertaste on the tongue seemed to wash away everything, leaving only this gentle aroma.
I took a deep breath, feeling the air permeate with the aroma. It wasn't overpowering, but it seeped deep into my bones, soothing my tense nerves. It felt as if my entire body was relaxing, even my breathing became much easier. This aroma, with its unique sense of pleasure, quietly soothed my inner uneasiness and anxiety, gradually restoring clarity to my thoughts.