Chapter 261: Chapter 260: Revenge
The live broadcast from Harville’s Supreme Leader, Haimo Lan, reached not only the citizens on Planet One, Planet Three, and those in space, but was also transmitted via Super-distance Communication to the nearly ten billion people on Planet Two who had not managed to evacuate.
At that moment, the hearts that had been hanging in suspense finally sank. All hope was utterly extinguished.
Even the Supreme Leader’s mother and the relatives of numerous high-ranking officials had been sent back to Planet Two. It was now impossible for anyone else to evacuate the planet.
The purge was a foregone conclusion.
At that moment, brilliant flashes of light continued to erupt in the clear skies of Planet Two, like stars winking into existence for a split second before vanishing.
It was as if a spectacular fireworks show was unfolding across the vast sky.
Many people sat numbly, unmoving, quietly awaiting their fate. But even more people chose, in the final moments of their lives, to take out their communicators and say farewell to their distant relatives and friends.
“My dear child, remember, though I am dying in our civilization’s purge, the culprit is not the Supreme Leader, nor is it our civilization. It is our enemies, the Humans.
My dear child, you must avenge me. You must. Otherwise, even in the Divine Kingdom, I will never be able to rest in peace.”
“My dearest wife, I love you so much. I’m so sorry I can’t be with you any longer.”
“SOB… Father, I’m so scared.”
…
Sorrowful cries first broke out in small pockets, but they quickly spread across the entire planet. From there, they traveled along the Super-distance Communication links, reaching every corner of the Lyra G16 Star System.
At that moment, the civilization’s population, numbering in the hundreds of billions, was plunged into an inescapable grief.
The entire nation wept as one!
Amidst this endless sorrow and pain, splendid “fireworks” erupted one after another from all over the planet.
Boundless light and heat swept across the entire planet, obliterating all technological facilities and claiming tens of billions of lives.
In Conference Room One, Haimo Lan slowly raised his head.
At this very moment, his face held no trace of sorrow or pain—only calm.
He astutely noticed something.
With this event, it seemed… the entire civilization’s psyche had undergone a monumental change.
The entire civilization, a population of nearly three hundred billion, had now cast aside all other thoughts and truly united as one.
‘An army in mourning… will always be victorious!’
‘At the same time, although we instantly lost over 700,000 Warships to an enemy attack whose mechanics we don’t yet understand, we haven’t lost a single qualified soldier, aside from those who were on Planet Two.’
‘Furthermore, based on the available evidence, it’s highly probable that their attack was a one-off. They won’t be able to use it again anytime soon!’
‘Our civilization can still mobilize nearly 800,000 Warships! Our reserves of unmanned combat drones are equally vast!’
‘On paper, we still have the advantage.’
‘And now, with the people’s hearts united, I can foresee a massive surge in both our combat effectiveness and our industrial production.’
‘Without a doubt, while the loss of Planet Two was a major blow, it… has forced us to evolve into our strongest state ever.’
Revenge! Revenge!
Haimo Lan slowly raised his head.
He could almost hear it rising from every city, every planet, every starship—a cry from the workers, the commoners, the merchants, the officials, the scientists, the rich…
From every social class, from every one of his compatriots. He could hear their shared cry, their one desire.
Revenge! Revenge!
No matter their former status, no matter their past internal squabbles or conflicts, at this moment, everything was cast aside. Only a single word remained in everyone’s hearts.
Revenge, revenge!
Defeat the Human Civilization! Avenge our fallen!
Then…
Haimo Lan’s voice was calm and solemn.
“I command the fleet to assemble! For revenge!
The enemy may have taken Planet Two, but their fleet has suffered immense damage and cannot recover quickly. Now is their moment of weakness.
I order the civilization to enter a state of martial law! All factories will run at maximum capacity! All reservists are conscripted! Mobilize all our forces, every starship and unmanned combat drone! Set course for Planet Two… for revenge!”
Revenge! Revenge!
At that moment, the word echoed to the heavens.
The entire Harville Civilization mobilized with unprecedented efficiency. Countless Warships assembled in record time. A mountain of logistical supplies was rapidly amassed for the fleet.
Meanwhile, at Planet Two, the purge was complete. The combat mission of the surviving fleet was finally accomplished. All the Warships regrouped and desperately fought their way out of the enemy’s encirclement.
At this very moment, not a single combat unit belonging to the Harville Civilization remained at Planet Two.
The Clone inhabited by Li Qingsong’s consciousness stood silently before a viewport, gazing at a dim point of light in space.
It was rapidly fading.
It was the engine flare from the departing Harville Fleet.
‘At this very moment, my strategic objective is finally achieved. Planet Two is finally in my hands!’
At that moment, Li Qingsong’s heart was filled with elation.
‘They purged all the tech on Planet Two before they left. Killed all their people. Didn’t leave a single damn thing behind for me. But… it doesn’t matter!’
‘As long as I have the planet, that’s all that matters!’
‘Forced by me to abandon Planet Two, forced to purge all your facilities and kill all your people… Your civilization must be in agony right now, hmm?’
‘You deserve it!’
‘Why didn’t you just let me go back then? Why did you have to stir up trouble and send a fleet to cut off my escape!’
‘No matter how many of you die, you all deserve it!’
‘Maybe all this grief will galvanize your civilization, making you rally together and burst forth with even greater fighting strength. Maybe it will give you the guts to launch your so-called “revenge” against me?’
‘Then bring it on. Bring it on!’
‘So what if I lost two billion Clones!’
‘If I don’t wipe out your civilization, I’m not worthy of the name Cloning Calamity!’
Back on Planet Two, the effects from the detonation of countless high-yield Hydrogen Bombs had yet to subside.
Vast swathes of land were covered in lava. Earthquakes rocked region after region. Countless volcanoes erupted violently, and furious gales ravaged the landscape.
Massive clouds of smoke and dust billowed into the sky, blanketing nearly the entire planet.
At that moment, it was as if a new barrier had formed over the planet.
The environment had become hostile beyond measure.
But… it didn’t matter!
‘Even the Blutuk Civilization of old had the power to build massive infrastructure on Venus. And now, I am a true Strong Core Civilization!’