CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 192: THE ARMY AT THE GATES

On the other side, Base 011.

Yu Qian paced anxiously in the narrow wooden hut, clutching the newly issued Type 75 rifle.

The rifle was already loaded with bullets, but the safety remained off.

Yu Qian mechanically repeated the actions of disengaging the safety and pulling the trigger, as if trying to gain a sliver of vitality through this practice.

But obviously, he didn’t have much confidence in himself.

If those monsters really broke in, could he stop them?

No, it’s unlikely...

On the way back to the base on the connector bus, he witnessed a drone and a robot besiege a monster.

The speed of the monster was incredibly fast, and its strength was astonishing.

When its claws swung, a tree as thick as a thigh was sliced in half.

Yu Qian couldn’t imagine what the result would be if it was him being struck by the monster’s claws.

Such a monster, even the drone, which he thought to be almost invincible, couldn’t easily take it down.

After half a minute of maneuvering, the airborne drone and the robot finally completed encircling the monster, ultimately using a barrage of bullet rain to kill it.

During the process, the monster several times attempted to jump into the air to grab the drone, and also tried multiple times to approach the ground-based robot to destroy it.

If not for the robot’s equally fast reaction speed, that robot might not have survived in front of the monster....

What about in his place?

Yu Qian exhaled a long breath, the emotions of nervousness, anxiety, unease, and fear making him feel dizzy.

Following the dizziness came a wave of nausea.

This was an irresistible physiological response.

His nerves were nearly at the breaking point.

In the distance, the rumbling of artillery could still be heard, and Yu Qian even began to hallucinate about "monsters breaking through the defenses and rampaging inside Jinling New City".

His heartbeat accelerated again, and his hands and feet turned numb and cold.

Looking at his son sitting by the bed, holding his sister, unsure of what to do, a sudden thought came to Yu Qian’s mind.

If...

If the monsters did break through the Huaxia Army’s defenses, what should he do?

Take them and run for their lives?

Hide in a place where the monsters couldn’t find them?

Such a place seemed not to exist in this world.

Images of his life in this "new city" flashed through Yu Qian’s mind.

In a daze, he realized that these seemed to be the most relaxing days of his entire life.

And this so-called "relaxation" wasn’t physical ease.

Yes, he was tired every day, repetitively doing hard work.

But he also truly felt that this hardship was meaningful.

No need to worry about being hunted by monsters at any moment, not fearing the persecution from Terror Demons, bandits, and mercenaries; he knew what he was doing and why he was doing it.

Perhaps this was the "belief" often mentioned by the Holy Blood Temple and even the Mechanical God Sect?

Yu Qian took a deep breath.

Moments ago terrified to the point of trembling, his muscles suddenly relaxed.

He suddenly felt that he shouldn’t run away.

There was no better place in the world than here.

Even if he had to run, he should at least try first!

With that thought, he lowered the muzzle, ceasing his mechanical actions.

Then he looked at his son and said:

"Dad needs to go out and do something, take care of your sister at home."

"Where are you going?"

The son suddenly stood up, his sister in his arms with wide eyes, completely unaware of what was happening.

"I’m going to see if there’s anything I can help with---- those Huaxia Army adults, they’re short-handed."

"They need our assistance!"

With that, Yu Qian turned and left the room.

He didn’t take another look at his children, afraid that one look would make him waver again.

The sky had completely darkened, Jinling New City, now under wartime conditions, implemented a lights-out policy, making the camp twilight incredibly dim.

But even in the dim light, Yu Qian noticed many vague figures moving in the dark.

They all headed in the same direction as him.

Were they planning to do the same thing as he was?

Yu Qian recognized his coworker from earlier in the day, and he quickly approached and asked:

"Liu Qi, where are you going?"

The coworker named Liu Qi looked up at him and answered:

"I’m going to see if there’s anything I can help with."

"The front line is still fighting, heard the battle is intense."

"A regimental commander was severely injured, his armor is ruined."

"But the Huaxia Army is still holding---- their line hasn’t retreated."

"Unfortunately, they’re understaffed, and we..."

"Wait!"

Yu Qian asked in disbelief:

"The regimental commander is severely injured? You’re talking about.... those regimental commanders?"

"Yes, heard it’s the biggest one."

Liu Qi’s voice was incredibly low.

"He hasn’t returned yet, and it’s unclear whether he is still fighting, or if he..."

Liu Qi didn’t finish his sentence, but Yu Qian’s pace had already slowed down.

The regimental commander was severely injured...

If that’s the case, is this battle still necessary to fight?

He couldn’t help but hesitate, but seeing Liu Qi gradually walking away, he ultimately followed.

Conflicting thoughts clashed in his mind, the instinctive cowardice and fear slowing his steps, but the faint, elusive sense of will kept him unwilling to stop.