Translator: AnubisTL
"I'm inclined to believe that the entity responsible for all this is not a sentient being with a high degree of subjective will."
After synthesizing all the available intelligence, Jieming had reached this conclusion.
"It's more like... a 'non-living entity' operating on some fixed, massive program. As long as our awakening and contact don't trigger its core directives or cause large-scale disturbances, it might simply categorize us as 'tolerable errors.'"
This hypothesis cast an even stranger chill over the room.
Inside Rex's residence, shielded by layers of technological countermeasures, the two "Awakened" who had tentatively reached a consensus fell into a brief silence, staring at the fragmented intelligence they had gathered.
The eerily peaceful social atmosphere, the vast and authentic scale of the universe, the number of "Fallen" who might far exceed their estimates, and the invisible, all-encompassing network that coordinated everything...
All these clues pointed to a profound and unfathomable system operating behind the scenes.
Yet they were like scattered pearls, lacking a single thread to string them together.
"All the 'anomalies' seem to have been covered and digested by a powerful 'Order,'" Rex tapped his fingertips on the metal tabletop, creating a rhythmic, light clicking sound. "Except for one place..."
Jieming looked up and chimed in, "The frontline."
Indeed, that sector, locked in combat with the so-called "alien threat," was the only place of continuous "chaos" and "conflict" in this vast, peaceful, and orderly universe.
If this "System" had any flaws, that was undoubtedly where they would be most exposed.
With their target clearly identified, Jieming and Rex wasted no time in taking action.
Leveraging Rex's reputation as a well-known young engineer from Planet Anvil—and the few minor but military-favored technical optimizations he'd contributed—the two successfully secured special transit permits and observer status for a specific frontline star system.
A few days later, they boarded a military fast-resupply ship transporting spare parts and energy cores. After passing through several heavily guarded star gates, they arrived at the frontline planet codenamed "Iron Curtain."
The moment they stepped off the ship, the difference between "Iron Curtain" and the rear was stark.
The sky was perpetually shrouded in heavy, metallic-hued dust clouds. The surface was a network of reinforced permanent fortifications, radar arrays, and massive energy shield generators. The air reeked of ozone and the acrid scent of grinding metal, an invisible tension permeating every corner of the base.
Because of Rex's status as a "technical consultant" and the "friendly" technology he brought, they were invited by the base commander.
He was a middle-aged general with a stern face and eyes that betrayed his exhaustion.
Out of consideration for the technology they had provided, the two were treated with a degree of courtesy.
But for the same reason, when they proposed observing the actual combat on the front lines up close, or even going to the most forward outposts, they were met with a flat refusal.
"No, absolutely not!" The general's tone left no room for negotiation. "You two are precious technical talent, and the rear needs you more. The front is too dangerous—stray bullets, energy splashes, even those elusive infiltrators... I cannot let you take that risk. This is an order, and it is for your own good."
No matter how much they emphasized "the importance of data collection for technical improvement," or even subtly hinted that there might be "authorization from higher levels," the commander refused to budge.
In the end, they had to settle for a compromise.
They were allowed to "observe" a small-scale conflict that had just broken out through a remote observation system, from a highly secure observation post located hundreds of kilometers from the actual line of fire.
On the massive holographic sand table, light dots representing friendly and enemy units clashed fiercely in a rugged canyon.
Jieming and Rex locked their gaze on the main screen, which displayed a magnified and enhanced real-time feed of the battlefield.
Dozens of dark red figures of various shapes were swarming out of the canyon's shadows, charging toward the human side's automated defense lines.
"Are those..."
Jieming's pupils constricted.
Leading the charge was a creature moving on all fours, nearly three meters tall.
Its body was covered in a dark red chitinous shell that resembled cooled lava, with a scorching orange-red glow emanating from its joints. As it ran, it left searing footprints on the ground, and its maw spat out superheated plasma fireballs.
This form, this attack pattern... It was exactly the kind of cannon fodder bioweapon Jieming knew—a Molten Core Hound!
Only these Molten Core Hounds were larger, their color was darker, and their joints were reinforced with mechanical battle armor.
Immediately after, another creature, gliding along the ground like a shadow, caught their attention.
It had almost no fixed shape, resembling flowing black sludge.
Yet it could suddenly launch itself forward, using condensed, razor-sharp energy spikes to effortlessly tear through light armor.
They excelled at attacking from blind spots and could even jam electronic equipment for short periods.
"void predator..." Rex's voice came through.
These were bizarre creatures that lived near void rifts. They were often captured and modified by wizards proficient in shadow and space spells, used for reconnaissance and harassment.
There were also flying units circling at high speed in the sky, launching corrosive mucus balls.
And burrowing units that tunneled underground, suddenly erupting to destroy defensive positions...
Among these appearing "alien creatures," many features highly matched the low-cost, easy-to-control contractual creatures or elemental lifeforms from the wizard world that Jieming and Rex remembered being commonly used in planar wars.
They weren't identical; the details had been adjusted, as if someone had modified them a second time using the technology of this plane.
On the battlefield, the human defenders held out stubbornly, relying on automated turrets, energy shields, and soldiers in power armor.
The flashes of explosions, the roar of energy beams, and the screeching of tearing steel came through the observation system, depicting the intensity of the battle.
However, Jieming and Rex's attention was no longer on any of that.
They exchanged a glance, seeing a sudden flash of understanding in each other's eyes.
"No wonder we could never find a trace of those cannon fodder units. So they were all dumped here," Jieming said.
Rex's expression turned grave. "There are likely wizards among the humans fighting down there, yet these things still launch attacks. That means even mindless cannon fodder units can be 'shrouded.'"
"And besides the familiar cannon fodder, there are many creatures on the battlefield we don't recognize. I'm not sure if they're other unlucky souls or the natives, but it seems this world's faction logic is based on appearance."
Jieming nodded in agreement. He turned his gaze toward the "aliens" on the battlefield.
"Still, the news has barely mentioned anything about these creatures over the years. It looks like they're just combat units or cannon fodder for the alien civilizations."
Rex immediately understood Jieming's meaning. "In other words, the 'real aliens'—the ones controlling these war machines—are hiding in the back."
(End of the Chapter)
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