Splitting had become a certainty. The independence faction was determined to leave, while the guardianship faction was shocked and angry. They had clearly been protecting the race together, yet now some were abandoning them, and even attacking what they had once protected before leaving. The guardianship faction couldn't help but become emotional, loudly questioning them.

"You are also Sunil people. How can you abandon your race in times of crisis?"

Fagorna was expressionless. "My race, my appearance, my life form—these factors that are determined at birth cannot dictate my thoughts and positions. I have contributed my abilities, and now I want a new life."

The members of the guardianship faction wanted to continue questioning him, but they saw that the members of the independence faction looked calm and without remorse. These people opposite them had once been brothers who fought side-by-side. Everyone had put in blood and sweat. The relationship between the two sides was not one of enemies, but of comrades who were parting ways. They didn't have much of a position to accuse the independence faction. They could only say that everyone had their own ambitions.

Fagorna pushed aside the person blocking his path. The members of the independence faction strode away, while the Sunil soldiers and the guardianship faction stared blankly at their departing figures in silence.

At this moment, every Sunil person seemed to see a bleak future. Sopping could be heard faintly. The iron-blooded soldiers who were fearless in battle were now shedding tears one after another. This was the collapse of their inner spiritual pillar. Over the years, the espers who protected the race had been shaped into the Sunil people's spiritual totem and driving force for resistance. The soldiers were fearless of death, but they were heartbroken by the split.

"Sometimes, the collapse of a spiritual pillar can strike a greater blow to an entire entity than an external disaster," Han Xiao shook his head. The fallen Sunil race was like a resilient disabled person. The physical disability had not defeated him, and he still maintained an enterprising spirit. His mind was sound, but when his spiritual beliefs collapsed, he also became mentally disabled, losing his motivation.

Therefore, the impact of the split on the race was not just the loss of a group of espers. It had a far-reaching impact on the spirit of the people and soldiers, and on the tenacious qualities of the race.

Meros's positioning as the "protagonist" was that after the split, the higher-ups of the race downplayed Fagorna and a group of former heroes, and supported him as a new benchmark, becoming a new spiritual motivation, representing that there were still people persevering.

In his previous life, Meros's future status surpassed that of Fagorna. If Fagorna was a representative of going from generous and passionate to tired and indifferent, Ralton was a representative of redeeming himself for his sins, then Meros was a representative of those who escaped reality and slowly awakened to a sense of responsibility. After the Sunil fell into distress, the race's ideology continued to shift, from passion to indifference, and then from indifference to finding a belief to persist in. The belief collapsed in the split, and the emergence of Meros was to rebuild a new belief in the ruins, allowing the race to radiate new qualities. His experiences and actions allowed the race, which had fallen into confusion, to find a reason to persevere again, and to move forward through pain and difficulty. His inner contradictions were the epitome of the entire race.

Unlike Bennett, who was far away on Aquamarine, building a shelter and had already established a firm belief, Meros was a "protagonist" who was growing.

Thinking of the direction of events in his previous life, the Great Technician Han sighed a little. "It's a pity that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it... When Meros died in battle, the Sunil people gave up their struggle and turned to Godora's embrace."

…

The independence faction left the defense circle and entered the jungle. They were preparing to find a place to contact a galactic travel group and never return. Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of them. It was the mysterious armored warrior.

Fagorna and the others stopped.

Meros took off his helmet, his expression complex, and said, "Why? When you looked for me before you left, you just wanted me to protect the race in your place, but what you're doing now is destroying the race's will..."

Fagorna looked at him indifferently and shook his head. "If I don't leave... how can you replace me?"

Meros's eyes were slightly angry. "Just because of this boring reason?"

"Actually, I hate you very much. You have such a strong power, but you safely shrink in the back to be a parasite. You are not qualified to point fingers at me." Fagorna's face was cold. "Now, you have revealed your strength and exposed your armor. The race will definitely do everything in their power to search for you. You can't go back anymore."

Meros was surprised. "You're trying to scheme against me, so you..."

"Don't overestimate yourself!" Fagorna's eyes narrowed, and he said coldly, "Everyone has experienced so much. How can their ideas be changed by a small number of people like you? Leaving is for our own pursuit, just like those brothers who continue to persevere. Even if our split causes a negative impact and makes them criticized by a small number of people, it will not shake their foolish determination to protect the race.

"I still say the same thing, only living is important. I want to make the entire race no longer have the extravagant hope of persisting. This meaningless struggle does not need to continue. Just accept Godora's aid obediently. That way, everyone will not have to bleed anymore, they will not have to fight anymore, and all Sunil people will be able to obtain a stable life... This path is the real way to protect the race."

Meros opened his mouth. Han Xiao's face reappeared in his mind. He had once told Fagorna about the future of the race after accepting military aid, but Fagorna insisted on his own opinion and was unwavering, thinking that it was a wrong prediction.

The independence faction left.

Meros hesitated for a long time, and gradually made up his mind. He left the forest and strode toward the defense circle.

The army was still immersed in the shock of the split. After discovering the appearance of this mysterious armored warrior, they were stunned for a while before remembering the order from their superiors. They hurriedly gathered their spirits, suppressed the confusion in their hearts, and put military orders first, surrounding him.

In front of countless soldiers, Meros slowly took off his helmet, glanced at the exhausted soldiers, took a deep breath, and slowly said, "My name is Meros..."

…

For the entire Sunil race, this misfortune was full of twists and turns, with countless storms. After the war, the guardians split, but the legendary General-grade armor reappeared. A hidden Grade B esper named Meros stood up to protect the race. For several days, the media vigorously hyped Meros's experiences, shaping him into a hero who stood up in a time of crisis, reporting that the research institute had obtained the General-grade armor and would invest massive amounts of funds, hoping that one day the race would be able to obtain the technology to create General-grade armor again, using Meros and future plans to dilute the impact of the split.

Under the joint publicity of the military and the leadership, Meros's name became known to everyone, gradually establishing a new role model for the people.

The Sunil settled the final payment for the employment, and the mercenaries left one after another. During this period of fighting side-by-side, Han Xiao got to know many colleagues and had pleasant conversations with them. The other mercenaries were deeply impressed by the Black Star Mercenary Group, which had suffered no losses, and they all showed their goodwill.

Mercenaries liked to get to know their colleagues, because they might have to fight side-by-side one day.

The players returned from the wild. The Sunil military expressed their gratitude to the Black Star Mercenary Group and issued rewards. Each player received 12,000 Enas, greatly increasing their spending power. Han Xiao, as the leader of the group, naturally received the same amount, plus the work of battlefield repairs. The Great Technician Han earned 16,000 Enas on this trip, which was almost enough to buy a new advanced knowledge.