At this moment, the phone on the command platform rang. A staff member answered and said to Xiao Xun, "Mr. Xiao, the superior leaders require us to deploy the original humans."
"This is the original humans' first show; success or failure hinges on this."
Saying this, Xiao Xun looked at Su Xiang behind him. "How many original humans do we have ready for combat now?"
"Including the one that was just successfully refitted, there are three."
"Have they been named?"
"Not yet."
Xiao Xun stared at the big screen. "Then let the pilots name them themselves when they return!"
That rectangular spaceship had not launched a second attack since it floated into the sky, except for turning one building into sand.
After the conventional forces launched an ineffective attack, the Gatekeepers were deployed.
Three colossal original humans were ejected from specialized hatches beneath the experimental base, along with anti-materiel heavy sniper rifles of equal height, which fired particle beams.
One original human picked up the heavy sniper rifle, while the other two were equipped with a shield as large as an airplane and submachine guns in both hands, standing ready.
This was the original humans' first battle; they could only succeed, never fail.
Everyone was a three-dimensional being, and now it was a matter of whose power was superior.
Xiao Xun watched the real-time footage from the ground on the command platform. "Area Eight is so vast, yet they precisely descended upon G City. It seems inextricably linked to Chu Ningxiang. Attack!"
Su Xiang said to Xiao Xun, "Headquarters' intention is for us to negotiate first. What if they don't intend to fight and are here for peace?"
"Even if they genuinely didn't intend to fight, our people have already opened fire, and they've retaliated. There's little point in seeking peace now. Most importantly, they are here to invade us."
As he spoke, he picked up the communication device and said to the command post of the original human base, "What are you waiting for? Attack."
"Yes!"
At Xiao Xun's command, a purple beam shot from the ground towards the spaceship in the sky.
The spaceship was so enormous that even an eighty-meter-tall original human was insignificant in comparison.
The beam gun was modified from the Piercing War Halberd, and its power and performance were undoubtedly top-tier in the three-dimensional world.
This shot successfully pierced the ship's shield. The opponent quickly locked onto the attack direction of the original human base and fired an orange beam.
The original human holding the shield blocked the orange beam. The orange light column directly penetrated the shield and hit the original human's armor.
Unexpectedly, the beam that could pierce the sturdy shield failed to penetrate the original human's armor.
Everyone rejoiced, "It seems it really works."
The original human wielding the anti-materiel heavy sniper rifle was ready for a second shot after cooling down. He aimed at the blue and white glowing engine unit on the spaceship.
A tremendous explosion followed, and the blue and white light instantly extinguished.
Before everyone could cheer, a swarm of black-clad figures flew from the spaceship. Their clothing was peculiar, with the entire arm to the side resembling wings. They wore black helmets and moved with extreme speed.
Their target was unified: charging towards the base where Xiao Xun was located.
Seeing the black-clad figures, who were the same size as normal humans, Xiao Xun picked up the communication device and said, "Deploy conventional forces for support. These individuals should not be invulnerable to conventional weapons."
"Yes!"
The air guns immediately opened fire, but the black-clad figures were incredibly fast, and very few shells hit them.
Fortunately, upon being hit, these figures instantly dissolved into a bloody mist.
The third original human, wielding dual micro-submachine guns, targeted the black-clad figures in the sky and pulled the trigger. The immense rotation spun the bullets forward, and soon, a mist of blood appeared before them.
The anti-materiel heavy sniper rifle was ready for its third shot. This time, it aimed at the spaceship's turrets.
The square-shaped spaceship began to execute a spatial jump at an incredibly high speed, appearing above another city.
Xiao Xun's side could only vaguely discern the spaceship's silhouette. It was clear they had left, but not far.
"It seems the original humans can indeed resist alien attacks. Prepare the celebration banquet."
He excitedly said to Su Xiang, who looked grim. "Mr. Xiao, the meeting room, headquarters is on the line."
Seeing Su Xiang's expression, Xiao Xun knew the situation was serious. He immediately went to the meeting room, where the green light of Unit One was illuminated.
"Area Eight is online, requesting communication."
The voice on the other end was clearly not the usual one, filled with anger. "Area Eight, who authorized you to initiate an attack without permission?"
"I don't have command authority over the ground conventional forces, and the incident happened so suddenly that none of us anticipated it."
Unit One said angrily, "Don't try to frame the local forces. Before the spaceship appeared, your base issued a Level One combat readiness directive. It's evident you had prior knowledge of this."
Seeing that he could not conceal it any longer, Xiao Xun explained the matter of Chu Ningxiang.
Unit One was furious. "Since you captured the alien, why didn't you hand her over to headquarters? And you let her escape!"
"I intended to play a long game..."
"Enough, stop explaining. We've already dispatched personnel to relieve you of your position as the overall person in charge of Area Eight. You are to return to headquarters for an inquiry!"
"But..."
"Do you have anything else to say?"
"The aliens are attacking ferociously, and Area Eight is my home."
"Area Eight is your home, but is Blue Star not your home? The situation is dire, return immediately."
Xiao Xun took a deep breath and replied with a resigned "Okay," and then disengaged the mic.
As soon as he exited the meeting room, the guard captain stood there. "Mr. Xiao, someone from headquarters is here and wants to see you immediately."
Xiao Xun replied dejectedly, "I know."
Returning to the command platform, a slightly overweight man wearing gold-rimmed glasses proactively extended his hand. "You must be Xiao Xun, Mr. Xiao! I've heard much about you."
Xiao Xun did not shake his hand and instead asked, "And you are?"
"I believe you've received headquarters' orders. I'm here to take over your position. My name is Pang Jiadong." He then looked at a tall, thin man behind him. "This is my deputy, Teng Qiao."
"What is headquarters' intention?"
"Headquarters wants you to travel to Area One on the transport carrying the original humans."
Su Xiang exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't Area One the frozen continent?"
Pang Jiadong's face instantly turned cold. "You have no right to speak here. You are forbidden from appearing on the command platform from now on."
Xiao Xun frowned. "Can I bring him with me?"
Pang Jiadong smiled and shook his head. "That's probably not possible. Apart from you, no one is allowed to leave their post."
"Those experts and scholars, they've completed their tasks. Can they be allowed to leave now?"
"Not yet either. Don't worry, we won't trouble them, as long as they don't overstep."
Teng Qiao whispered a few words to Pang Jiadong. Pang Jiadong nodded and said to Xiao Xun, "Time is short, and I still need to deploy the next phase of combat missions. Please take off as soon as possible!"
"I understand."
Xiao Xun boarded a large, triangular transport aircraft. The original humans were secured underneath the transport, fastened by high-strength bolts, making them very stable.
The adapter sat next to Xiao Xun; he was the one wielding the anti-materiel heavy sniper rifle.
"What is your name?"
The adapter stood up and said nervously, "My name is Pei Jingnan, from Country H."
Xiao Xun pressed his hand down. "Sit down and tell me."
Pei Jingnan cautiously sat down. Xiao Xun sized him up. "Are you afraid when piloting an original human?"
"A little bit afraid, but compared to normal training, the actual combat felt like playing a game."
"What did you do before?"
"Professional esports player."
Xiao Xun clicked his tongue in amazement. "No wonder..."