MTLNOVEL Chapter 7: The Holy War
The Frost Plating Federation pilot was satisfied as he counted the bullet holes on the fallen Red Arrow aircraft, holes created by his mecha's SS-101 electric gun just minutes ago.
The aircraft, codenamed Mozambique, carries a civil aviation code but is actually powered by the most advanced dual nuclear fusion engines, flying with reverse thrust provided by heated air, known as the 'Legless Bird' that never lands.
Nuclear-powered reconnaissance aircraft flying at high altitudes are typically hard for ground forces to trace, but due to the lowering of the Ersha Sky Curtain, the aircraft had to descend to 3,000 meters, leading it to be shot down by the anti-aircraft squad of Frost Plated mecha supporting Sky Ring.
Disguised as a civil aircraft, the Mozambique is now in a terrible state, crash-landed in the white sands, with the military emblem still palpable on the pilot's seat.
The area around the aircraft is filled with the smell of burnt synthetic materials, akin to throwing a piece of rancid chicken fat onto an abandoned engine hood, with the stench of hydrogen sulfide rampantly swirling in the air.
The Red Arrow people destroyed the camera.
"Kneel properly, you war criminal bastards."
The captain of the infantry squad shouted, pointing a rifle at the two Red Arrow pilots. The latter looked indifferent, although they followed orders by clasping their hands over their heads and crouching on their knees, their skull-like faces showed no sign of submission, which displeased the mecha pilot greatly.
"You crossed the Sky Ring border, actively invading another country's territory. You even took pictures of classified information; what awaits you are charges of espionage, and you will be scorned and judged by countless people."
"So?"
The main pilot of the Red Arrow calmly asked:
"Who will reject the sins that the People of Sky Ring committed against us in the past? They slaughtered our people and used nuclear weapons against us. We endured for over 400 years, with the hatred in our chests burning constantly."
"Listen," the Frost Plated captain said: "Sky Ring also invaded our country, we once faced each other in battle—but is this really the time to discuss national grievances and family feuds?"
"Why not?" the Red Arrow pilot sneered: "You also witnessed the enemy committing countless crimes on your homeland, dead bodies everywhere, blood flowing like rivers, and now you shout to forgive and even protect Sky Ring—is Sky Ring your father or something?"
The Frost Plated soldiers, however, were not angered by him; instead, they exchanged glances and laughed heartily.
"What are you laughing at?" the Red Arrow pilot asked in confusion: "The end is near, and if you don't seize this chance to seek revenge, are you still human?"
"Only the relics of the Old Republic fail to distinguish priorities."
A Frost Plated soldier, carrying a machine gun, replied:
"Of course, we remember the hatred. The Sky Ring Ghosts once burned, killed, and plundered on our land—but we more so don't want to hand over the entire planet to Lord Entropy."
"It's useless."
The Red Arrow soldier shook his head:
"Lord Entropy is a deity, an emperor, a Caesar, truly the master of this planet, existing here long before we arrived. We can't possibly fight against it."
"Only the weak wield blades against the weak; the strong eternally challenge those stronger."
The captain coldly stated:
"The Frost Plated People have witnessed crises of national extinction like those of the Red Arrow, with injustices and anti-human actions similar to yours occurring on this land, yet we never gave up seeking a better world."
The Red Arrow soldier wanted to retort, but flashes erupted in the sky, evidence of battles between Red Arrow aircraft and Sky Ring Air Force; the brilliance of missiles and drones exploding intermingled.
"We want to live, to strive for development, to have our descendants witness a beautiful future on our behalf."
The captain concluded just in time to see investigators emerge from the aircraft wreckage, one of whom was a Third Rule Agent, wearing a blue cap insignia, an elite.
As he walked over, he counted the evidence collected in his hands:
"Maps of Frost Plated forward cities, mobile fortress routes, as well as the layout of Sky Ring refugee camps, hospitals, schools—you even wanted to target civilians! You deserve to die."
The Third Rule Agent chuckled in anger, then retrieved a photo from a notebook and flipped it to show the crew: on it was a blonde, blue-eyed Red Arrow woman holding a newborn child, eyes filled with endless love.
"You are also a husband, a father, why would you commit such acts against civilians?"
The image of his wife and child pierced the Red Arrow pilot's vulnerability. He lowered his head, unable to face the cold reprimand of the Third Rule Agent:
"Launching a war to invade another's country, slaughtering other people's husbands, fathers, and sons, how can you have the face to do such things? Do you think you're justified to your wife, mother, and child? If they knew that the one they love is killing others' loved ones on foreign lands, how would they see you?"
"—So what can we do?!"
The Red Arrow pilot murmured:
"This world is already doomed, those children are destined to die, and our grievances remain unresolved—you tell me, tell the Red Arrow Nation that has spent centuries in humiliation and threats, tell us—what else can we do?"
Boom!
A shell landed on the nearby sand dune, exploding into a brilliant firework, turning the white sand into colored glaze at 3,000 degrees, shining impossibly azure in the air.
How beautiful, if gunpowder wasn't a weapon for killing, but instead an artwork for adorning festive atmospheres, how great would that be.
"We are not politicians; these questions are not for us to answer."
The Third Rule Agent rallied his subordinates and escorted the Red Arrow pilot onto the aircraft; they would be taken to Krachikov—the headquarters of the Third Rule for interrogation.
"But anyhow, humanity's fate shouldn't be one of mutual destruction."
The Third Rule Agent coldly stated, slowly lowering the bars:
"Past hatreds, the shadows of old days, these are insignificant in comparison to human civilization's continuance and the true Grand Narrative."
"Grand Narrative... then prove it to us."
The Red Arrow pilot sneered and slumped in the plane's internal prison:
"Recklessly challenging deities will surely invite their retaliation. The dreadful outcome could be even more terrifying than destruction."
The Third Rule ignored him, and the agent quickly processed the information evidence at hand, numbering them one by one, sending them to Krachikov.
After careful discussion and data analysis, Krachikov obtained crucial intelligence: the Red Arrow Empire will blitz Xia Yi, launching a full-scale war.
David Lyn received the news and dialed the Phantom Palace without any hesitation.
He had no doubt about his subordinates' intelligence; the Third Rule never disappoints.
David Lyn lit a cigarette, his gaze unintentionally sweeping across the desktop to a photo of his six-member family placed beside his office computer.
In the photo, he was spirited, young, and handsome, wearing the lieutenant's uniform of the Old Republic.
Two sons were hugging their favorite toys, flanking him on either side. His beloved wife's face bore the shyness and rosy cheeks typical of a village woman, as cute as an apple.
The eldest daughter, Yawen, was holding her baby sister Desca, her green hair inherited from her mother, and her golden eyes twinkling like stars.
—If he had a choice back then, would he still have reached where he is today?
David Lyn's heart was as hard and cold as steel.
—If history could be kinder to him, he should have had family accompany him in his twilight years.
But history never has any "if."
The phone was connected.
"I am Gretto Yegg, the Prime Minister of the Sky Ring Republic."
Gretto donned his pitch-black armor, raised his shield after a long time, and said in a deep voice:
"... For the future of humanity, the Sky Ring will never surrender."
"I have enacted resolutions 8-10, Your Excellency President David Lyn. From now on, the Sky Ring Rouge Army and the people will never surrender to the Red Arrow Empire. We will resist all invading enemies, whether they are Lord Entropy's angels or the Empire's dogs. We will fight to the bitter end."
"Let them watch. Humans may be killed but are unbeatable."
"That is enough, Mr. Prime Minister. From now on, the Sky Ring-Frost Plated Anti-Empire Human Resistance Alliance is formed. Nation, divided between republic and dictatorship, home, divided between heaven, earth, south, and north, people, divided by age and gender—defeat Lord Entropy, defeat the Empire, liberate Azure Star!"
The Frost Plating Federation President, David Lyn, calmly said:
"Years from now, our descendants will meet in space."
"Until then, we shall sweep away all obstacles on earth for them."
"No one can stop us from marching towards a glorious and great future."
At this time, it's early Sunday morning. Schools in Sky Ring had just held farewell parties the day before. The rock bands stopped, and the graduates of twelve-year compulsory education would embrace a new day.
The youth of Qiong'anjing went to Phantom Palace Square as usual, and the Fairy Capital's citizens went to the Dnieper River bank. Colored Glaze County was still under the white night.
At 3:45 a.m., the artificial sun was swallowed by the Ersha Sky Curtain, the world darkened, and the entire nation's citizens united as one, quietly waiting for the long night to arrive.
Meanwhile, the Red Arrow plane was already en route for the attack.
Fifteen minutes later, bombs fell like a torrential rain, full scale air raid alarms blared, and Frost Plated Coating Fighters crossed thousands of kilometers to intercept the Empire's aircraft in mortal combat in the sky.
On the ground, the mecha troops surged like a tide, with Red Arrow's mechanical army flowing continuously, and tanks began firing from ten kilometers away. Under the cover of dense explosions, the mechas charged like heavy cavalry, fiercely tearing a path.
Simultaneously, a Light Spear from beyond the sky landed violently, ripping open the Ersha veil.
The sky revealed a heavy light, countless fiery meteors descended, and landing craft touched down on the ground. The planet was instantaneously activated with the breath of millions of Gamma Rank Pathway.
Bang!
The hatch kicked open, and Caramel Snail drew a blade, his magic armor radiating a deterrent glow:
"Report to headquarters, we're grounded."
He looked up, the players' various flags unfurled over the mountains and plains.
Shouts of battle, slogans chanted.
For fame and fortune, homeland and land, or redemption for sins.
Regardless, all living beings on this planet entered an unprecedented synchronicity; overwhelming fighting spirit erased all fear.
Ancient races, stirred from their slumber, the Ersha churned unstoppably, with lightning and thunder. Nature's fury transformed into torrential rain and frost snow, roaring towards humanity.
Yet, whoever it was, they must acknowledge one thing: Amidst the cries of battle that spread over the mountains and fields, Azure Star greeted an unprecedented splendid light.
For the living beings, not for the masters.
A sacred war of homeland defense has begun.