Chapter 168: The Final Choice

The burning Terminator-class warship was struck by a beam of light descending from the cosmos. Its blazing hull slid down from the vast firmament, soon plunging behind the mountain range.

High in orbit, the dark indigo warship slowly adjusted its hull, revealing its bridge. A captain clad in black bowed before the illusory screen.

"Captain of the Astral-class warship, reporting to Council Chairman. The doomsday weapon is ready for deployment. Shall we fire?"

Upon hearing this, Vladimir rolled his eyes directly. "Are you trying to obliterate me along with them?" Vladimir was well aware of the sheer destructive power of the doomsday weapon. Once unleashed, the area within a radius of hundreds of kilometers would be utterly scorched, turning entirely into molten magma.

And that was even without the doomsday weapon operating at full capacity; releasing its total energy would easily pierce straight through planet Earth.

"There is no need to use the doomsday weapon or the main cannons. Interstellar secondary batteries will suffice for orbital bombardment support. Furthermore, keep a close eye on the movements of the enemy flagship." Vladimir issued his command, and the captain of the Astral-class warship saluted in acknowledgment.

"Now, patch me through to Chairman Hagen," Vladimir ordered, and Hagen's figure materialized on his display.

"Hagen, I have already instructed the Astral-class warship to execute the bombardment from high altitude. The enemy cannot hold out much longer; you can now press the attack with all your might."

Hagen, however, remained unimpressed, paying no further heed to the burning warship ahead. His gaze fixed quietly on Vladimir instead as he spoke: "You don't need to play your petty tricks in front of me. I'm not as foolish as you think. Now is not the time to discuss how to annihilate the opponent. Surely you haven't forgotten why we came here."

Vladimir mentally cursed the old fox. Everyone always said military men were just apes with developed limbs, but Hagen clearly did not fall into that category. Obviously, Hagen had never lost sight of the true purpose of this expedition.

"Vladimir, I don't know what on earth you're trying to achieve, but this time I cannot allow the situation to escalate further. Whatever your stance may be, I must eliminate that hazard." Hagen's tone was brimming with solemnity. Vladimir could tell he wasn't joking; Hagen genuinely intended to kill Xie Liu and his group. If Vladimir stood in his way, Hagen would attack without mercy.

"Are you truly determined to go against me?" Vladimir's expression grew cold. His dialogue with Hagen was now thick with an undercurrent of hostility. "Hagen, let me tell you this: I am incapable of backing down either. You simply do not understand the importance of the Dead Eye. Even if we let the half-breed infant go, I cannot touch the Dead Eye, do you understand? That infant doesn't even begin to compare to the importance of the Dead Eye."

Hearing Vladimir speak with such gravity, Hagen furrowed his brow. He had known Vladimir for a very long time; generally speaking, when Vladimir stated a problem with such immense seriousness, the matter was truly critical. Moreover, since Vladimir was unwilling to reveal the reason, Hagen was certain the situation was extremely urgent—so much so that they couldn't even be told the specifics.

"Is the situation really this severe?" Hagen's tone softened slightly. Vladimir nodded. "Severe enough to threaten the very existence of humanity."

Hagen arched a brow in surprise, then nodded. "I understand your point now. However, Vladimir, haven't we misunderstood one fundamental issue?"

"What issue?" Vladimir inquired, while Hagen simply shook his head with a wry smile.

"Haven't we been arguing over the wrong point all along? My objective has always been the cat-woman and the infant in her arms, whereas your objective has consistently been to protect the Dead Eye. Our goals don't actually conflict, do they?" Once Hagen finished speaking, Vladimir paused slightly in realization.

"I see. It seems we were simply too hasty, failing to see the essence of the problem. Indeed, my purpose is merely to ensure the Dead Eye does not perish. As for the cat-woman and her child, I have no need to interfere."

"The real issue is that the Dead Eye is hell-bent on protecting that mother and child, so the safest and most efficient method is to eliminate them together. However, since you insist otherwise, I have no choice but to alter my initial strategy." Hagen tapped the desktop before him, pondering for a moment before continuing. "I can find a way to dispatch that mother and child without killing the Dead Eye. In exchange, however, you must assist me. By the way, if possible, I might even spare the human infant's father."

Vladimir shook his head. "As long as the Dead Eye survives, do whatever you like with the others. Slaughter them all if you please."

"Including the Phoenix Girl?" Hagen asked. Vladimir nodded. "Yes, including the Phoenix Girl."

"Very well, you said it." Hagen's eyes lit up as he began issuing directives to the fleet. "Attention all units, once the Special Alliance warship is cleared, shift all firepower to this feline cyborg. Destroy it at all costs! Furthermore, avoid harming the hunter Dead Eye. Under no circumstances is he to be injured."

Orders given, every vessel in the fleet responded within seconds, confirming comprehension. Receiving the acknowledgments, Hagen turned back to Vladimir. "Well then, are you satisfied?"

Vladimir indicated he had no further objections, then cast his gaze toward the still-burning Gryphon-class warship, lowering his voice. "Now let's finish off that fellow. It's time to deploy the Moon-Wheel warships."

Hagen concurred with Vladimir's suggestion. At his command, the earthworm-shaped vessels surrounding the eagle-like warships seemed to receive their cue, rapidly contracting and rolling into solid metal rings before spinning furiously.

"Go, Moon-Wheel warships!" Hagen waved his hand, and all the Moon-Wheel warships transformed into solid rings spun at terrifying speeds, churning the surrounding winds with an intimidating aura of slaughter.

Following a piercing shriek, the Moon-Wheel warships surged forward like wild horses breaking their reins, hurtling through the air to impact the distant Gryphon-class warship.

The Moon-Wheel warships slammed into the enemy vessel at breakneck speed, embedding themselves deep into the armor. The rapidly spinning crafts then acted like bulldozers, tearing through the warship's outer plating. In an instant, over a dozen Moon-Wheel warships ripped the Gryphon-class apart. Shrapnel flew wildly as internal machinery was crushed and exploded. Deprived of its shield protection, the Gryphon-class proved as fragile as paper, ripped completely to shreds.

"Those Moon-Wheel warships are terrifying!" Ye Leng cried out in astonishment upon seeing the three-kilometer-long hull of the Gryphon-class pulverized by the concerted assault of a dozen Moon-Wheel warships.

Xie Liu remained much calmer, though the destruction of the Gryphon-class only darkened his expression further.

"The outcome has been decided. It's time for us to run," Xie Liu stated. Ye Leng looked puzzled. "Didn't we win? Why do we need to run?"

"This isn't a matter of winning or losing. Whichever faction emerged victorious, they will both turn their sights on us next."

Xie Liu rubbed his temples. "Now is the time for us to make a choice. Will we run or surrender? Decide."

"What do you mean?" Ye Leng asked, confused. Ailu pulled Ye Leng back, having already grasped Xie Liu's intent. "I'll explain. This is the final choice he's giving us."

"First option: continue fleeing, grasping at the slimmest chance of survival. Second option: surrender unconditionally. You're hoping that the person who helped us earlier can save Wang Qi and his wife, aren't you?"

Ailu finished with a solemn expression, fixing her gaze on Xie Liu as she continued, "This is the choice you've offered, but I want to make it clear: I will not surrender. Let alone not fearing them, even if we are no match for them, I won't let them have their way easily."

Xie Liu understood Ailu's sentiment. Peaceful coexistence between special operatives and the fantasy metropolis had never existed, did not exist now, and never would in the future. Xie Liu turned his gaze to Ye Leng, who said, "I think we should take a gamble. Vladimir shielded us from a blast earlier; surely they are on our side."

Xie Liu offered no opinion, finally looking toward Wang Qi and his wife. Ultimately, this entire incident centered around the two of them.

Though frequently overlooked due to their modest combat prowess, Xie Liu ultimately had to consider their wishes.

Qi Li cradled her daughter with a trace of anxiety, looking first at Xie Liu and then at her husband. She gently wrapped her arm around his, whispering, "Qi, you decide. Whatever you say, I will support you."

She trusted her husband implicitly, regardless of whatever decision he made.

When the question fell upon Wang Qi, he remained silent for a moment. To him, this was truly a matter of life and death, yet he had to make a decision now—the Gryphon-class warship would not take more than half an hour to be completely obliterated.

After a brief meditation, Wang Qi looked directly at Xie Liu and asked slowly, "Tell me the truth: if we choose to run, what are our odds of escaping?"

Xie Liu hesitated, and Wang Qi seemed to glean his answer from the silence. "I see. It seems you don't have a single shred of confidence that we can escape, do you?"

"Very well, second question: if we choose to surrender, what is our survival rate?"

Xie Liu remained silent for a moment before replying, "Virtually zero. Vladimir might compromise, but there is zero chance with Chairman Hagen."

"So, the two choices you offered are actually no choice at all? Or were you aware from the very moment you decided to help us escape that we could never get away?" Wang Qi demanded. Xie Liu lowered his head, feeling as though his innermost thoughts had been laid bare.

"You're right. From the very beginning, I had no certainty of leading you out alive. So, I'm sorry."

Wang Qi received his answer and seemed to release a long-held breath. At last, he said, "Even so, didn't you still choose to help us? Even knowing there was no favorable outcome."

"Therefore..."

Wang Qi embraced his wife, offering a faint, bitter smile. "I've made my choice. We'll take the first option and run. Even if it's futile, I want to fight for our freedom one last time."

As Wang Qi finished speaking, a look of profound release washed over his eyes.