Chapter 1 Desperate Situation

　　Inside the underground conference room of the City Lord's Mansion in the Second Ring Area of Mist City.

　　A middle-aged man with a face full of wrinkles, some graying hair, wearing a luxurious gray gold-trimmed robe, and a calm expression sat in the main seat.

　　This middle-aged man was none other than Geltuo, the City Lord of Mist City.

　　Seated around him were nobles, officials, and other important personnel.

　　Among them was a very familiar figure, quietly sitting in the corner with a bitter expression on his face. This person was none other than Pades, the merchant from the Black Sun.

　　Everyone present looked anxiously at City Lord Geltuo, asking questions.

　　"City Lord, what do we do now? At this rate, we won't be able to hold on much longer."

　　"We have to hold on, even if we can't. Almost all the other cities have fallen, and now most of the people from all areas have fled to Mist City. There are nearly 80 million survivors gathered here. If we fall, everyone will be finished. Then our Mist Country will truly be destroyed."

　　Geltuo said, his face full of exhaustion.

　　Although Geltuo held the title of City Lord, he was actually the highest leader of the entire Mist Star, and also the former ruler of the Mist Country.

　　"Ah... then what do we do? Should we evacuate some people first?"

　　The people present were as anxious as ants on a hot pot.

　　"Evacuate? Our interstellar airport and outer space fleet have all been destroyed. The remaining few escort ships will only meet their doom if they go up."

　　An official replied with a grim face.

　　"Then what do we do? We can't just give up."

　　"Of course we can't give up. My men are still holding on the city walls. Don't worry, unless they are all dead, they will never allow the monsters to rush in on a large scale. We must hold on until the Star Ring City's reinforcements arrive."

　　A general wearing V-generation mechanical armor and a dark complexion said.

　　"What the hell is Star Ring City doing? The reinforcements haven't arrived yet?"

　　"You ask me, who do I ask? Under normal circumstances, they should have arrived long ago."

　　......

　　Geltuo's expression became more and more gloomy, his eyes constantly changing, not knowing what he was thinking.

　　Just then, several messengers rushed in.

　　"City Lord Geltuo, the research institute wants us to send more manpower to support them."

　　"Where do we have more manpower to support them!"

　　Everyone present replied with a headache.

　　Geltuo took a deep breath and said, "Send the City Lord's Guard."

　　"Absolutely not, Lord Geltuo, that is to protect you."

　　Everyone present suddenly changed their expressions and said.

　　"Is there any other way? We can't lose the research institute. Although the research institute is nominally ours, it actually belongs to Star Ring City. It houses a large number of Star Ring City's experimental items. If it falls, we can't afford the responsibility."

　　Geltuo settled the matter without any doubt.

　　At this moment, another messenger cautiously reported, "General Tuolu, who is defending the outer perimeter, has also sent a request for help. They can't hold on any longer."

　　Geltuo's brow furrowed into a tangled mess. He had never felt so powerless.

　　Just then, standing next to Geltuo, a girl wearing cyan V-generation combat armor, with waist-length cyan hair and an heroic face, took a step forward.

　　"Father, I will go support the outer defenses."

　　The one who stood out was Geltuo's daughter, Geyi, who was also a top expert in the Mist Country.

　　Geltuo raised his hand and grasped Geyi's hand, and after a long time, he said, "Be careful, come back safely."

　　"Understood."

　　......

　　In the most central area of Mist City, inside a laboratory built entirely of Chong Locke reinforced metal.

　　Mechs guarded each passage, lowering their cannons and firing fiercely at the monsters pouncing over.

　　Rumble~

　　In the fierce explosion, monsters broke through and attacked.

　　Immediately, the mechs on the scene drew out their alloy blades and rushed up.

　　They collided together in a tragic battle!

　　In the public channel, urgent shouts continued to sound.

　　"K2 area urgently needs support!"

　　"C33 area can't hold on!"

　　"Ah~"

　　......

　　At a corner in a passage, lay two IV-generation Night Watch mechs and ten III-generation Hyena Hunter mechs.

　　A V-shaped general-level alien monster, the Glutton Ghoul, stood over eighty meters tall, its entire body covered in protruding black carapace, its sharp claws emitting a cold light, its body like a standing cheetah. Its huge head had a pair of scarlet eyes, and its cracked mouth revealed rows of sharp teeth.

　　It raised its head ferociously, looked at the camera above, and then tore it to pieces with one claw.

　　Tzz~

　　Deepest in the research laboratory, in the core shelter.

　　A woman wearing a white research suit, with blue hair tied up, and a very gentle face, nervously watched the video screen that had lost its signal.

　　"Lord Oula, what do we do now? That alien monster is slaughtering everywhere, and we don't have any experts who can match it. Moreover, the situation in each area is not optimistic. If this continues, the laboratory will fall."

　　"We can't go on like this. What about the reinforcements? Why hasn't the City Lord sent anyone to rescue us yet? And what about the rescue team sent by Star Ring City? Why haven't they arrived yet?"

　　......

　　Some researchers asked with fear and anger.

　　Oula took a deep breath and said calmly, "Now the entire Mist City is under heavy attack, and the City Lord himself can't cope with it. It's normal that the reinforcements haven't arrived. Send someone to contact and urge them again. As for the rescue team sent by Star Ring City, we can only wait patiently. They should be here soon."

　　"The problem is, we can't hold on any longer."

　　An old man next to her stamped his feet anxiously.

　　"Yes, Lord Oula, what do we do now?"

　　Many of the researchers present couldn't sit still, mainly because too many people had died.

　　Oula's gentle face now showed a trace of determination. She issued an order, "Pass down my order, activate the base emergency device and lower all the gate barriers!"

　　"This won't work. Isn't that trapping us ourselves? Lord Oula, please think twice."

　　Some of the researchers next to her suddenly became anxious.

　　"Don't say anymore. We have only two results: either we die here, or we wait for rescue. There's nothing else to say."

　　Oula's attitude was unusually firm.

　　Everyone present fell silent.

　　Then, Oula came to the operating table without hesitation. She brought up the operating interface and entered a string of instructions.

　　Soon, a prompt box popped up.

　　"Do you want to activate the emergency shelter program and close all channels?"

　　"Yes!"

　　Oula's expression changed for a while, and finally the hesitation faded, replaced by unwavering determination. She pressed the confirm button without hesitation.

　　In an instant, gates fell directly throughout the base!

　　Clang!

　　After doing all this, Oula's fair face turned even paler.

　　Everyone present also remained silent.

　　Just then, a staff member rushed over and shouted urgently, "Lord Oula, we have received an unknown communication request. Do we accept it?"

　　Hearing this, Oula raised her head subconsciously.