Chapter 2475

2475 - Suicide Mission

Somewhere on the massive battlefield—

Inside a Phantom Shadow vehicle—

"Gentlemen!" Theo's calm voice rang out after reviewing the plan, and he began looking around, "This type of mission is what this unit was formed for, and today will be your greatest test."

Around Theo were about twenty individuals, all wearing the black Shadow Swords attire with visible additional armor. Each one stood in whatever way was comfortable for them, not the usual attention stance before the First Sword.

Some had their arms crossed, some rested their chins on their hands, and so on~ all of them looked toward the plan explanation with furrowed brows and minds working at lightning speed.

Beside Theo, and those twenty, was an additional person who didn't seem to belong there… a young man with flowing white hair and calm expressions, wearing the same black armor set as the rest, but there were pieces out of place and the mask was not on his face—clearly he had put it on in a hurry.

It was Richard.

"Do you have any other questions?" Theo took a final worried glance toward Richard, then toward the rest, "If not, head to your positions and prepare for the launch."

"Understood." Half of them nodded and left the room.

The others reviewed the explanation on the luminous wall one last time, then they too left, and Richard left with them.

"Richard, wait." Theo's voice came from behind him, "I want a word with you in private."

"Hmm?" Richard was surprised for a moment, then took a step to the side to let the rest leave, after which he returned to Theo, "What is it, Second Brother?"

"You don't have to do this…" Theo looked directly into Richard's eyes, "It's a suicide mission and you know this well."

"Everyone will do it…" Richard gestured toward the Shadow Swords who had just left.

"They are Space Shadow Swords, special forces trained for breakthrough and destruction. When they were selected and all those resources were poured into their training, they knew that most of their missions would be suicidal." Theo explained, then tilted his head slightly, "And forgive me, but even if the entire Space Shadow Swords Legion were wiped out, they wouldn't equal a single drop of your blood."

"Heh~ You shouldn't talk about your subordinates like that." Richard sighed, then showed an embarrassed laugh, "Secondly, I might get arrogant!"

"I want you to be arrogant, so you might learn your own worth a little." Theo stared into Richard's eyes. "Even during your era of recklessness, when you were infatuated with Serine everywhere for centuries, you were under our eyes one way or another. But this time, no one will be with you. Your chances of survival are slim… and frankly, I don't know what to do with you."

Then he added in a heavier tone, "If the entire army is destroyed today, we'll simply retreat and start over in another sector. Your father never knew surrender, and his resources never run out no matter how tight things get." Then he narrowed his eyes slightly. "But if something happens to you… the world will be turned upside down, planets will burn and stars will fall."

"…That's a very specific image." Richard sweated a little.

"It's a simple picture of what will inevitably happen." Theo shook his head. "If he falls today, he will repeat a new Ancestor continent, but this time on a cosmic scale… Even if you don't fear for yourself, fear for the innocents who will be crushed under a war chariot that makes no distinction between great and small."

"…." Richard stared at him. "Doesn't the same apply to you and the rest of the brothers? Yet you're here fighting." He pointed at his brother. "You yourself just returned from a capsule a short while ago, and it's clear you'll do it again."

Then he pointed outside, "Little brother Aser is fighting outside with the Soul Masters of the Burton Family, and brother Peon today is responsible for all the Note of the Flood-4 vehicles in a full Note Squadron, moving them as he pleases while riding one himself!"

"You're different!" Theo shook Richard's shoulders.

"That's only in your head." Richard gently pushed Theo's hand away, then patted his shoulder, "I won't stand idle while everyone fights. As long as I can't go out into space and can't take command of fleets, I'll do it this way." Then he laughed as he turned around, "And don't worry, I don't want to die. My fiancée herself is fighting outside, hehe."

Baf

Richard exited and the door closed behind him, leaving Theo trembling slightly in the back.

He knew that if he stopped his brother from doing what he wanted, he would find another way, perhaps even more dangerous, but at the same time he was afraid of bearing the responsibility for what might happen if things took the worst turn.

"Hooo~" Richard lay down in an extremely tight space he had squeezed himself into, a place resembling a capsule, then shouted after a long exhale as he looked at the ceiling, "Alright, I'm ready."

Kshhhh

At that moment a barrier closed in front of him, blocking even the view of the ceiling, a glass barrier that touched his nose.

Then he heard a voice inside the capsule, [Target: The enemy's Eleventh Squadron command vehicle. Mission: Use maximum stealth, seize control of the command center, take command of the vehicle yourself, and begin striking the rest of the enemy vehicles from behind within a maximum of 30 minutes. Or, infiltrate and destroy the engine area and energy stores within a maximum of 17 minutes and return to the capsule. Failure to achieve either scenario means you will be counted among the dead and no return will be made for you.]

"Understood," Richard said aloud.

[Preparing... Launch.]

Boooom.

Richard felt himself accelerating at a terrifying speed, then the view through the glass window changed — he was now looking at a space war instead of a ceiling.

Then in the next moment,

Baaang

— he felt a massive impact, and after a few seconds the glass opened.

Richard leaped out,

Bang

, and looked behind him...

The black capsule had pierced the vehicle's outer armor like any random projectile, then immediately retreated and automatically used a certain array to seal the gap — this was to give him a chance to breathe and move inside.

Then Richard began looking around, in the most hostile environment he could possibly enter...

A vehicle about the size of the Note of Supremacy, with dozens of layers of external defenses, at least around 100,000 soldiers aboard, and perhaps a few World Calamities here and there to recuperate and breathe the air… He had to breach all of this within a few minutes.

But if he succeeded, neutralizing it would break up the Squadron and make it easier to hunt down.

"Alright…" Richard began rubbing his hands together, green flames scattering like sparks, "the vehicle won't destroy itself."

Then he pulled his hand back and struck,

Boooom

.

And he laughed, "Hehe, stealth isn't my style."