Him and their stars.

Chapter 1879: Monster Born of Despair

So now I know where that owl learned those weird mumbling things from.

Humph, compared to her cruel, sarcastic, and weird behavior, her past that was not easy to see in the light of day was her smallest weakness.

Just like that, King Suliuka, full of resentment towards the Black Moon father and daughter, packed up the bottles and jars with still unskilled movements and returned along the mountain path.

When she could already see the guards and convoy guarding the entrance of the mountain road, she heard a communication request in her ears. It was from the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Ostana Bar.

Of course, the Chief of Staff knew the destination of her master Jincheng Yixing. Since she called to disturb him, it must be an emergency.

"Just received news that Maxell, the chairman of the Blue Star Community's National Defense Committee, died two hours ago at the Metropolitan Hospital in the Big Apple."

Brunhild nodded slightly: "Then please make a courtesy visit in my name."

"The acting defense chairman of the Blue Star Community, Pegle, was arrested in a safe house in Guanghan City on the moon. He denied the claim that President Keith Nishita used a body double. He agreed with the conclusion that Nishita had died for his country, which is consistent with the on-site argument of our military star officer."

After dozens of days, all the star-seeing officer could do was to make inferences. Brunhilde nodded slightly with a blank expression.

Of course, the above news was far from urgent, and she was waiting for the rest.

"The deep space exploration station in the cantilever direction discovered traces of the Nature's Emblem... The reason why it is said is that five observation stations made similar reports within 100 hours, but they were an average of light years apart."

"So, the Nature's Emblem traveled 500 light years in one day?" Brunhildt laughed.

"These detection stations have just surrendered, and the soldiers on duty are still from the community."

"So, are they trying to confuse the public, or are they eager to show off their achievements?"

"It doesn't matter, Your Highness. As long as they report, they will definitely be able to find the real clues." The chief of staff said. She still had a fresh and elegant smile, but her gray eyes seemed to be pulsating with a fire that had not yet cooled down.

Brunhilde concluded lightly: "Very good, I'll leave it to you."

"Marshal Paris from Xin Chang'an said that before President Keith Nishita died for his country, he had ordered the entire nation to resist to the end. All acts of surrender are illegal. He ordered in the name of the Minister of Military Affairs, requiring all armed forces to continue to resist."

But in fact, the imperial stormtroopers have already boarded the table of Xin Chang'an, and the above speech was issued in an underground fortress. It is foreseeable that this may be the last order that Marshal Paris can issue as the Minister of Military Command.

Brunhilde was concerned about something else: "I remember you said last time that the number of people who believed that Kes Nishta had died for his country and those who believed that he had faked his death and escaped were actually about the same, right?"

The Chief of Staff's expression was a little strange. "It should have been so, but starting today, it may not be so. There are two more urgent news. Your Highness, we just got the latest news about Keith Nishita."

Brunhildt finally showed some interest: "Did they find the body? Or did they find the real person alive?"

"It is a video clip from an unknown source that is currently spreading rapidly on the Starnet."

In fact, it was because President Kes Nishita was shot and incapacitated, and was unable to perform the duties of the head of state for a period of time afterwards, that Vice President Yero automatically took office as president in accordance with the constitution.

Then, there was the announcement of unconditional surrender on behalf of the Blue Star Community.

"According to the analysis of the video content, he recorded it in May, before our fleet entered the solar system."

"So, this was recorded before he was shot?" Brunhildt said.

The chief of staff nodded: "The video quality is blurry, but it is unlikely to be fake."

King Suliuka burst out laughing on the spot: "Heh... You wouldn't repeat the tragic speech he made before he was shot, saying that anyone who surrenders is a traitor to the country, right?"

"Not only that. He actually said that anyone who declares surrender and humiliates Marshal Li and our independent spirit will be punished by heaven. When his life ends, it will turn into heaven's punishment to destroy the invaders and traitors."

Brunhilde showed a surprised expression, as if she had heard some absurd surreal development.

"Then, there was the second urgent news. A major earthquake broke out in the sea near Yongheng City, which immediately triggered a tsunami. The tsunami completely hit the Ceremonial Island of Yongheng City and also destroyed the Mao Mansion. Mao Yuanzuo and Jero were definitely present at the time."

The earliest source that can be traced back to the video is in the tens of millions of replies to the front-page news "The Destruction of the Blue Star Community" reported by Star Network.

After the curious netizens opened it, they found that it was a long video. On the cover was the long-lost internet celebrity, Mr. Keith Nishita, who was also the president of the Blue Star Community and the wartime leader.

To be honest, in the first half of the war, this tough-guy president made television appearances of varying lengths almost every day, calling on the people of Earth to resist the war, calling on the entire galaxy to unite to overthrow the tyranny of the empire, calling on all countries to quickly provide weapons to the Earth, and even urging the Alliance to enter the scene as soon as possible, shouting that if they did, they would surely reap victory.

It can be said that in the year 833 of the Common Calendar, President Nishita was the biggest star in the universe, bar none. His peak period was probably the speech given by the holographic projection at the Union Capitol.

At that time, he was like the embodiment of a beacon of the free world. Even the acting leader of the alliance and representatives of the member countries were just supporting roles in the background of this big star.

If the Community really wins the war, it will only be a matter of time before Lord Nishita wants to become the (Silver) River Chief, right?

However, everything rises and falls.

After a strange assassination incident on the Azure Princess, Nishita's alliance was ultimately unsuccessful, and in the following period, although his television speeches continued, they seemed to be less contagious.

More importantly, as the war continued to intensify, the people gradually became tired of his daily bragging. The former (Silver) River Chief was gradually becoming a has-been internet celebrity.

If it were any other time, no one would even bother to open this video. However, at this point in time when the community is legally and functionally extinct, everything seems very ironic.

In any case, Mr. Nishita's exit was dramatic and legendary. The video of him being shot had long been removed from major websites, but it was still circulating in a small circle, and various rumors were spread.

Some people said that the president died for his country, while others said that he was imprisoned by the capitulationists after being seriously injured, and his close friends were purged. Some people even made up a story that he was seriously injured and lying on a hospital bed, begging the vice president of the Communist Prosperity Party to spare him, saying that he would hand over all power and not remove the tube. Of course, there are also claims that the dead was a stand-in and that he had already been killed. Moreover, on the day when the siege on the presidential palace and the assassination of the president began to spread rumors.

Perhaps for the spectators of the entire galaxy, a tough leader who fights to the end does not seem to fit their aesthetic standards; or perhaps, an actor-politician who has established a brave persona but is pulled down from the altar and finally reveals his cowardly nature can best satisfy the public's demand for darkness.

Of course, there is also a great possibility that some shameless people are manipulating public opinion, but this is no longer important.

Anyway, President Keith Nishita did disappear after the shooting, but there was no news of a funeral or anything like that. The true circumstances are of course very imaginative.

So, when the curious opened the video, they saw this scene. Under the night sky of the Freedom Square in Eternal City, the president appeared in front of the camera after a long absence, wearing a neat uniform without a military rank, dressed like a soldier: "A letter from the President of the Blue Star Community, Keith Nishita, to all compatriots. Fellow citizens of all the communities! All the free people in the universe who have fought against the tyranny of the empire, I am standing in the Freedom Square in Eternal City, in front of Marshal Victoria Li, looking up at our common starry sky for the last time."

The background behind him, of course, was the bronze statue of Marshal Li in Independence Square, overlooking the president who was shouting. Under the light, the expression of the founding father looked very empty.

It was still the same old platitudes, the same motivational slogans, and the same empty shouts or roars. Many people thought that this might be a clip they had missed before, so they prepared to turn off the video.

But at this moment, they suddenly saw that the president's face was flashing with abnormal excitement and bloodiness, and he tapped his temple:

"Now, there is a sophisticated chip hidden in my skull. When my brain is certain of death, the shockwaves buried in the sea will explode! I have no intention of implicate innocent civilians, but I will definitely send away the enemies of the people of Earth! Compared to the invaders who came from afar, these traitors hiding among us are the people's greatest enemies! Now, I may die in their conspiracy at any time, and even this last video is almost impossible to release. Perhaps, the next time I appear in front of the public, it will be the day of martyrdom for my country, right?"

"But please remember, when you put your life on the altar, you are invincible! Now I am fearless! Remember, when the tsunami washes away the sinners, that is the moment when my soul is with the Father of the Nation. The Blue Star Community can perish! But the people of Earth will never be slaves!"

"When my life begins to dissipate with the tsunami that cleanses the evil, please do not look for a successor. The true leader will be born in the flames of war - perhaps an admiral who leads a fleet to fight guerrilla warfare in a marginal star region, or a general who launches a revenge movement in the empire, or even you who is clenching your fist in front of the screen at this moment!"

Brunhilde, who had already boarded the train, watched the entire video for the first time. With her current eyesight, she could tell at a glance that although the video was a little blurry, it was not fake or synthetic.

There was indeed a shallow scar near the other person's temple, but there was no way to confirm whether there was a chip hidden inside.

Of course, compared to the passionate community president on the screen, Brunhildt had a strange expression on her face, as if she had watched a bad comedy, and for a moment she was unsure whether she should applaud.

So, after struggling for a few seconds, she actually clapped her hands: "Great!"

If Keith Nishita being shot in front of a live broadcast of 500 million people constitutes eternity, then this segment adds a touch of absurdity to eternity, but it makes it seem more real.

“What is that coming from?” she asked.

"It can be traced back to 12 hours ago, that is, after the surrender ceremony you held in Independence Square in Eternal City."

A surrender ceremony was held under the statue of Marshal Li, and the community was declared dead. Is this what they call "insult"? I see.

"It's been half a day." Brunhild frowned slightly.

"It was drowned out by the billions of replies on the front-page news. It wasn't until the earthquake and tsunami happened just now that it became a hot topic," said Ostana.

"…So, the Mao Mansion is really gone?"

The Chief of Staff nodded: "Our rescue team is already in place."

Brunhilde almost laughed out loud.

"What we are worried about now is whether this incident will cause structural shocks to the entire Eternal City. You have to know that this city is built on an archipelago in the middle of the ocean. In addition, the General Staff is worried that this speech will cause the Earth, which has just restored law and order, to fall into turmoil again."

Brunhilde seemed to have only heard the first half of the sentence, and waved her hand casually: "Send more rescue troops to the Eternal City, and bring local coagulants. In addition, I want to know, where is Mao Yuanzuo?"

Is it just Mao Yuanzuo? Ostana reported: "The latest report from the front, Your Highness, the body of former Blue Star Community Acting President Yero has been found in the ruins, but not Mao Yuanzuo's."

Before she finished her words, she saw her master had already smiled a sharp but bloodthirsty smile, as if a dragon had seen its prey. The torrent of spiritual energy flowed in his golden eyes, solidifying into a murderous mist.

"Very good," she said.

The Chief of Staff stared at her master blankly, wiped away the tears that had appeared in the corners of her eyes, and a vivid expression of admiration flowed on her face: "Your Highness, wuwuwu, my Highness..."

The young yet powerful female dragon king shuddered, and the evil spirit on her body weakened a little. She couldn't help but said unhappily, "What's wrong with you again?"

"I just feel that mystification and mysticism are often the privileges of kings. Now, since you experienced the dream of the void pregnancy, you have become more adept at this. I am really touched!"

……

In the deepest part of Eurasia, in an unknown underground passage, Mao Yuanzuo, who is almost 100 years old, walks in the dark underground palace, and his whole body is shrouded in the impassable darkness. But his movements and vision do not seem to be affected at all.

He stood in the dark world of rock sediments, looking out, his sight passed through the bottom and the ocean, as if he had seen the Eternal City trembling in the tsunami and earthquake. In that gloomy and withered gaze, all he saw was his own figure when he was 20 years old.

"Back then, I was really strong, young, and ambitious," he said to his companions.

"We were all young, strong, and ambitious once, and I am still like that now," the companion replied. He had an ordinary face, and looked like an old mercenary who had been a hyena on the battlefield for half his life. In the galaxy, there were at least 80 million such people, if not 100 million.

"Indeed, although we belong to different races, Mr. Suihuo, I can see my younger self in you." Mao Yuanzuo's smile seemed to carry a hint of expectation for the younger generation: "However, I have experienced true despair, but I also know that the achievements a person can create are actually determined at birth."

“Real despair? I’m not exaggerating. I’ve been roaming the galaxy for twenty years, and there have been many times when I was only one step away from death.” said the middle-aged mercenary.

"That's not despair, Mr. Suihuo. It never was. When you do your best for a goal and give everything for a dream, but when you really climb to the top of the mountain, you will realize that this mountain that you have climbed for your whole life is just a building block built by others. At that time, despair will wrap around you like a black hole, devouring your life, soul, dreams and will. The reason why I didn't collapse is because I have understood this truth. As long as you choose to accept your incompetence and mediocrity, you can achieve a balance with your spirit."

Mao Yuanzuo smiled with relief, like an open-minded old man who was truly optimistic and ready to embrace the end.

However, in Suihuo's spiritual vision, behind the old body, a twisted and thriving soul was showing its fangs and claws. It was definitely not a human soul, but more like a virtual beast in the making.