Chapter 1003 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 1003: Landing [...] The "Orion" missile cruiser has been seized by the Alliance's Burnt Legion! Once again, the celestial beings' attempt to hint at a future for the wastelanders has failed. However, it is clear they haven't given up, and the subsequent developments remain to be seen. Additionally, the main hero behind the capture of the missile cruiser has refused to disclose their name, possibly because it sounds unpleasantly long. In any event, the truth of history is now clear — the 3,000 crew members of the "Orion" missile cruiser have been vindicated. They never executed any surface-cleansing missions and have even saved the wasteland world. The council has proposed building a memorial to thank them for their contributions. However, a disturbing thought remains: if the "Orion" never launched neutron torpedoes at Earth and the "Gemini" is five light-years away, then where did the early nuclear bombs over the wasteland era come from? Nevertheless, this 36,000-kilometer expanse has concluded with victory! As General McClen said, even when facing gods, the Alliance's Burnt Legion cannot lose, nor can the Goblin Legion. Furthermore, our old friends in Utopia City's council are deep in fiery debate in an emergency meeting, and it seems they're about to announce the results soon! - Goblin Observer ... Inside the refurbished repair chamber of the Orion missile cruiser, now equipped with buffer tanks. Ye Shi was updating the news he obtained through his "psychic powers" on a tablet. Taking a sip of instant coffee that was at least two hundred years old, Jiang Xuezhou couldn't help but comment, seeing the text on the tablet. "Are you serious?" Ye Shi chuckled. "Whether it's true, you'll find out when you return." This bookworm stubbornly refused to believe he could transmit information across five light-years, which sparked his competitive spirit, prompting him to demonstrate his ability. Verifying this was simple. Upon returning, one could check a specific date’s issue of the "Goblin Observer." As for secret leaks, there was nothing secretive about it. The intelligence was already documented in the info briefings of the old Southern Legion's intelligence department. What's more, their revered manager had long been exploiting players' cross-region communication bug between Utopia and Dawn City. Before Utopia and Dawn City established stable communication channels, it took only a bit of thinking to see the complexity. At least, for the Alliance, knowing this was no big deal compared to other outrageous rumors, this was trivial in comparison. At least, that's what Ye Shi preferred to believe. Watching him earnestly fabricate an entire page of news, even though Jiang Xuezhou was skeptical, she was touched by his earnest effort. This guy was trying so hard, just to keep her from despair. Maybe I've misjudged him all along. He does know how to care for people, just not expressively. "Alright, let's say it is." "What do you mean 'let's say'?" Ye Shi looked dissatisfied as he lifted his head, "I'm meticulously transcribing." "Alright then, since you're so steadfast in your belief that you aren't joking, I'll humor you," Jiang Xuezhou said with a mischievous smile, resting her coffee cup on the table. "Let's make a bet." Hearing this, Ye Shi chuckled. "Sure, what's the wager?" Jiang Xuezhou smiled. "If over 50% of what you wrote aligns with a real issue of the 'Goblin Observer,' you win. If it’s under 50%, you were making it up, and I win." 6666! Ye Shi had seen people giving points away but never seen anyone feeding them directly to him. "Haha, deal, just as you say." "Hold on, there's more," Jiang Xuezhou added with a sly grin, concealing her helmet's visor with a wicked declaration. "If I win, you have to pretend to be a little pig for a week and end every sentence with 'oink.'" A bit sinister, aren't you? Ye Shi chuckled. "Fine, but if I win?" "Do as you wish," Jiang Xuezhou replied with a confident smile, "Of course, there's no way I could lose, so you don’t even have to think about it. Heh heh..." That arrogant laughter brought gigabytes of data flowing through Ye Shi’s mind, and a devilish grin appeared on his face. But it only lasted a moment. Because he quickly realized he lacked the means, and no matter how many devious ideas filled his head, he couldn’t act on them, aside from a hardened fist. The devilish grin vanished, replaced by regret and frustration. Damn! Curse that Guang! So annoying! Watching the suddenly silent Ye Shi, Jiang Xuezhou completely misinterpreted, assuming he was out of things to say. Her victorious grin grew even wider. Nearby, a small koala cleaning the room tilted its head, unable to comprehend their conversation. Meanwhile, far away in Dawn City, Chu Guang sneezed involuntarily. Rubbing his nose, he mumbled. "Who's spreading falsehoods about me again..." ... Time passed day by day, and before they knew it, the two floating above Proxima Centauri B had embraced a full month of their two-person world. During this time, they scavenged usable materials from the starship while repairing and modifying facilities that could still be of use. While life was harsh, their ability to find joy in hardship prevented despair. Especially for Jiang Xuezhou, Ye Shi's psychic-sourced news and jokes offered rare comfort in the cold expanse five light-years away. It also fueled her persistence in seeking a way home. After extensive searching, Jiang Xuezhou finally confirmed using a repaired locator that the "Gemini" had indeed crashed on the surface of the third planet, Gaia, orbiting Proxima Centauri A and B. Not only that, she successfully intercepted a radio signal from the black box of the Gemini missile cruiser! The path home was becoming clearer. They just needed one to pilot the science vessel to the surface, locate the remnants of the "Gemini" missile cruiser, and recover the reactor's fuel storage canisters, pooling sufficient energy for another hyperspace jump. Though risky, this plan was more feasible than "upgrading the warp engine to reduce hyperspace jump energy consumption." After a dispute, Ye Shi finally convinced Jiang Xuezhou to stay on the Orion missile cruiser as remote support, while he went to the surface alone. Following a typical RPG trope, with two players entering a dungeon, there’s always a "where did the party member go" side quest. He had anticipated the sly developers’ "tricks," completely avoiding stepping into this trap. Solo action feels good. ... By the repaired science vessel. Ye Shi, clad in "Dragoon" power armor, double-checked his equipment and toolbox, then looked at the worried Jiang Xuezhou, reminding her. "...If I don’t return, don’t panic, stay calm." Eyes welling, Jiang Xuezhou's voice was choked. "...How could I not panic?" Even through the thick spacesuit and helmet, Ye Shi could sense the melancholy in those eyes. "No, I really mean it... what do I even say?" He scratched his head for a while, failing to explain his invincibility. Eventually, he clenched his teeth and said, "Just believe me, I won't abandon you." Although the "Player Handbook" didn't dictate a unified stance on resurrection or remote communication, maintaining the "game's" secrecy was a universal consensus among players. He wasn't sure if Guang's cameras were watching around here. Besides, even without a GM’s oversight, he wouldn’t want to go back on his promises. "Pinky promise." Jiang Xuezhou, her eyes red, raised a gloved hand, extending her pinky, murmuring softly. "Pinky swear..." "Pinky swear." Though he found it somewhat childish, Ye Shi hooked her finger reassuringly. Time seemed to fly by. Jiang Xuezhou held onto Ye Shi’s pinky, reluctant to let go. Watching her hand, unwilling to release its own grip, Ye Shi felt a pang of reluctance but ultimately steeled himself and withdrew his hand. He may not care about his own life, but he couldn't be indifferent to her safety. “If I don’t return... I mean, if! Just find a cryo-chamber to sleep in.” “I swear, I will never abandon you. I will come back for you!” The emergency cryo-chamber on the Orion could last for fifty years without any issues. It's not like it was at the beginning of the Wasteland Era anymore. Even if the Alliance doesn't temporarily have the capability to venture to worlds five light-years away, fifty years would be enough for them to recover warp engine technology. “Okay...” Jiang Xuezhou whispered, retracting her suspended hand. Receiving her affirmation, a bright smile spread across Ye Shi's face as he patted her head. “Wait for me.” Nearby, the little koala waved its clumsy metallic arm, offering a simple farewell. “Safe journey.” “Yeah! I'll be back soon!” With that, Ye Shi strode into the science vessel, passing through the hatch and sitting in the cockpit’s seat. It was the same spot Jiang Xuezhou had previously occupied. Over the past three days, with her guidance, he had familiarized himself with the science vessel’s operation. Simply flying it and landing wasn’t too complicated; the onboard AI could navigate with a single command and autonomously analyze a safe landing site through camera sensors. And Jiang Xuezhou would be watching from above. The Orion’s command system was already directly connected to the science vessel's communication module. Thus, even if he encountered a problem he couldn't solve, Jiang Xuezhou could remotely take over the ship and bring him back from the surface. “...Antigravity system online, plasma engines engaged, switching to autopilot mode.” Reciting the operational steps he had learned, Ye Shi pressed all the necessary buttons in sequence. Accompanied by a subtle hum, the science vessel at the damaged edge of the ship slowly lifted from the alloy floor, gradually separating from the massive starship under the gentle propulsion of a pale blue plasma stream. The view through the cockpit’s front window began to shift, transforming from a view of the Orion missile cruiser's hull to a vista of the mist-shrouded, emerald green planet. As he gazed at that magnificent planet, Ye Shi involuntarily held his breath, leaning his head against the seat's headrest. That’s Gaia! Where the Human Alliance Space Fleet once fought — “Ready for departure!” Jiang Xuezhou’s voice echoed through the communication channel, dispelling Ye Shi’s nervousness with a determined response. “Roger that!” With his acknowledgment came the gradual intensification of the azure plasma stream, drawing an arc as the science vessel approached the nearby planet. As the distance between them decreased and the orbital altitude lowered, the gravity exerted on the science vessel intensified, reaching a new equilibrium with the antigravity system. Meanwhile, the science vessel had descended close to the atmosphere's edge, its silvery exterior sparking with a fiery glow. But the heated flames didn’t linger long. Under the combined effect of the antigravity system and plasma engines, the science vessel’s speed soon decreased to less than three times the speed of sound, reaching subsonic velocity just before entering the troposphere. Sitting in the cockpit, Ye Shi felt his entire body tense, a mixture of anxiety and exhilaration. It was like being on a free-fall ride — only this one plummeted into the atmosphere! In an instant, the swiftly descending science vessel pierced through cloud cover, deploying four drones with folded wings, which shot out in the cardinal directions under inertial force. The relay of radar and visual sensor data from the drones quickly provided surface intel to the science vessel, then relayed to the starship in synchronous orbit. Below lay an expanse of peculiar broadleaf plants, blanketing every inch of the planet's surface, resembling a boundless, emerald ocean. Just like the aerial reconnaissance images from synchronous orbit! Taking another deep breath, Ye Shi selected a relatively elevated and safe landing site from multiple options on the holographic display. Sweeping away countless vines and foliage in a wake of robust air currents, the silvery vessel landed on the soft turf. Moments later, the hatch opened, and Ye Shi, gripping a rifle, stepped through, setting foot on Gaia’s surface. This was likely the first time since 215 that human civilization had returned to a world five light-years away. If there truly were no survivors left here... Ye Shi had a persistent feeling that the history he knew and the true history had diverged. Many factors could cause such deviations. It’s like how the people of Stone City genuinely believed that Utopia City had once launched an expedition against them, even spreading the tale with fervor, while Utopia’s residents remembered no such event. The truth was only revealed after the inner city’s collapse. Those orally passed-down memories were merely a fabricated history crafted by inner city nobles to legitimize their rule. The abundance of species here even surpassed that of Earth, and the lush forests didn’t resemble anything ravaged by nuclear fire. Perhaps the Human Alliance Space Fleet did bomb this place. But the ecological environment here proved more resilient than Earth's, recovering to its original state over the past two centuries... “Ye Shi! What’s the situation there?!” Jiang Xuezhou’s voice burst through the communication channel, filled with apprehension and urgency. Hearing her voice, Ye Shi immediately tapped the side of his helmet. “I’ve landed successfully, feeling good... what about you? Have you located the Gemini missile cruiser?” Jiang Xuezhou was maneuvering the four fixed-wing drones from above. Quickly, a projection appeared on his tactical visor. “The signal source is locked in a valley, about 3 kilometers from your current location... The vegetation there is exceedingly dense, with an average height of 20 to 30 meters.” Jiang Xuezhou's voice trembled slightly with tension. “Ye Shi... you must be careful. Things here are completely different from our recorded data. I spotted several strange animals along the way.” “I know.” Ye Shi cast his gaze toward the shadows beneath the forest canopy, his finger already resting on the rifle’s safety. A subtle yet palpable aura of danger enveloped him. Without a doubt. It was the intent of a predator. He could sense it, a watchful eye lurking within the shadows. “... The flora and fauna here seem untouched by strife.” To be continued.