Wasteland Echoer.

Chapter 645 New Requirements
"New Era 06: The end of the universe is utter death. All atoms and molecules eventually become worthless particles due to the extremely elongated space. When the universe dies, in the mysterious and eternally dark space, death loses its meaning, and existence also loses its meaning."

However, just as the universe is a reflection of humanity, perhaps humanity is a projection of the universe. Humanity has endured different cycles of reincarnation to this day, and the universe itself is constantly undergoing cycles. When the universe dies, the force gathered after the black hole evaporates will create a new, scorching core, awaiting the next explosion and a new, dazzling world. — *The Dark Book*

February 2th, 558th year of the new calendar.

Crusde Federation, Far Northeast Region, Outer Naboa (Group) Mountains, "Former Military Outpost No. 08", Command Center for the Final Battle of Atlas, "Military Lookout Layer".

The yellow sand that had surrounded the Transnabuya Mountains, and even the entire Far East Region III, as well as the area from Novayask to Khotov, has finally completely receded.

According to a telegram sent by the Second Army Corps of Novayask stationed near the Yongchi volcano, an "invisible entity with divine energy" appeared inside the Yongchi volcano, forcibly suppressing the energy of the volcanic eruption and temporarily returning the volcano to a dormant state. This also caused the volcanic ash and the turbid particles formed by the mixture of volcanic ash and dust to completely dissipate.

Only three days have passed since Shaneva released the "artificial divine punishment fire." Apart from the team of superhumans originally sent to sabotage the pipeline, the rest of the Federation Council [warriors] and the army within Novayask are in a brief "dormant" state, awaiting further orders.

In order to keep abreast of the latest information from the front lines, Shaneva specially found an unused military watchtower at the former "08" military outpost and converted it into a temporary "military watchtower." She also installed a layer of special glass, which allowed those inside the "watchtower" to clearly see the outside situation, while those outside could not see the internal situation.

To make the final victory of the battle more comfortable, Shaneva also invited some of the descendants of the Krusd royal family who had fled from Icefall City to renovate the place, adding a strong blend of classical and modern styles.

Therefore, when Wright approached the enormous room, he did not feel as if he were in a military facility; rather, it felt like he had entered a specially designed restaurant for leaders.

After passing through the red, rustic, gold-trimmed gate reminiscent of Crusaders, Lai followed several soldiers who had brought him there, walking along a red carpet into the restaurant, whose upper half exuded a strong old imperial technological style, while the lower half retained an absolutely traditional classical feel.

Then, arranged by the late Mikhail, I sat at the very center of the largest red round dining table, directly to the north.

At this moment, various dishes in the style of Khitanlis, prepared by Igor himself, were already laid out on the table.

"Commander Shaneva, when are you coming?" Wright leaned back in his high-backed chair, stroking his now swollen and unconcealable "Dark Touch," and looked at the empty space with only a few people in it, asking Mikhail.

“Please wait another fifteen minutes. Commander Shaneva needs to handle some urgent military intelligence before she can get here,” Mikhail replied, rolling up his sleeve to look at the gold watch he had only worn once.

It was an antique from a thousand years ago, a piece made on a whim by Cruz's most renowned watchmaker. Its surface was inlaid with many diamonds that were extremely rare at the time, and the exposed parts, such as the dial, strap, etc., were all made of gold, making it look exceptionally heavy.

This was a trophy that Mikhail had seized fifteen years ago when he defeated a leader of the "Night Guard" outside Icefall City. He was reluctant to wear it and only wore it once when Shaneva took office as the head of the Federation Council and the head of the Crusde Federation.

The fact that he deliberately brought such a commemorative and special item to the "restaurant" shows how much he valued this lunch.

About thirteen minutes later, accompanied by the clattering of unsteady high heels, a tall but slightly frivolous figure appeared across the red round table.

Wright looked up and saw Shaneva, but she was wearing a tight-fitting dress that shimmered all over, giving her the look of a fashionable woman from the late Steam Age.

Her face was a mixture of triumph, joy, and a hint of pain, perhaps because the dress didn't fit properly and looked too tight, or perhaps because the high heels couldn't keep up with her feet that had been through so many battles.

“Wright Socrates, I think you’ve made up your mind by now. Joining the Crusad Federation is the only way to have a future. Escaping here or going to Nebrius to find your companions is unwise.” Shaneva crossed her arms and leaned back in the oak chair, which was a little higher than the others, looking at Wright with a smug expression, as if she were announcing her military strength or showing off her victory in the war.

Klein clearly dismissed this, and he did not give Shaneva the response she expected:
"Ms. Shaneva, do you remember who you are?"

"What do you mean?" Shaneva asked, slightly displeased.

"I am the leader of the Federal Council, the leader of the Crusad humans, and naturally, the great leader who will restore human civilization in the future."

"So, you still remember that you are human, and you still remember that you are the leader of the Crusad humans?" Wright unleashed eight "Dark Touches" without any politeness, causing them to expand on his back and block out most of the sunlight entering the room.

The interplay of dim areas and penetrating light makes Wright resemble an ancient deity who has just emerged from the deep sea, wriggling his tentacles and basking in the sunlight.

Mikhail and Shaneva were already used to Wright's behavior. Even though the guards around them had already raised their rifles and pointed them at Wright's head in the face of such a strange and sudden situation, Shaneva still waved her hand, signaling them to leave the room.

“War requires sacrifice. All resources, including manpower, are worth sacrificing for the final victory. I told you, and I told Mikhail and Olga, that those who oppose the Federation Council are worthless fools. I will not accept their surrender; they must be eliminated so that I can build a new world in the wasteland.” Shaneva stood up, staring directly into Wright’s dark eyes, which appeared particularly terrifying in the light. She walked quickly to the floor-to-ceiling window, making a gesture of embracing the sun with her hands, and said in an emotional tone:
"Regardless of your attitude, I must tell you. Previous ability users, as well as the newly formed 'Detection Team 1' and 'Detection Team 2' warriors, have all reported that there is no living thing left on the surface of Belogersk. The moment the 'Artificial Divine Punishment Fire' is unleashed, it will utterly annihilate even battle-hardened warriors and the Lost Ones, turning them into piles of charred remains. Preliminary estimates suggest that, apart from Nebrius and the high-ranking members of the 'Dedication Group' who are hiding in the 'Core Area' and 'Ground Wire Pipes,' no one survived the explosion."

“That’s too cruel, Commander Shaneva,” Wright said sarcastically.

"Even if you successfully take control of all of Krusd, all you'll inherit is a pile of ruins with no productive value. You can celebrate your victory and revel in your power, but I will leave here, head to Nebsk, and leave this country."

“I hope you won’t stop me. Of course, you’d better not stop me. Otherwise, I will unleash all the power within me and fight you to the death.”

“The sage of Khitanris said: What cannot be retained should not be forcibly retained. Perhaps you and Krusd are not destined to be together; it is just a series of wrong events that have led to the current situation. Just like that god: the Chooser.” Shaneva said, quickly returning to her original oak chair.

He then took a silver box from Mikhail and placed it in the center of the dining table.

Following Shaneva's footsteps, Wright sat back down at the table and carefully examined the box Shaneva had handed him.

Its appearance is quite ordinary. What is certain is that it is an industrially mass-produced product. Its exterior is made of industrially refined silver, with a shiny surface, and it is used to store extraordinary items that require silver for insulation.

After examining the box carefully for a few seconds, Wright pointed at it and asked:
What's inside? Is it related to the decision-maker?

"Yes." Shaneva nodded, speaking in a calm, leader-like voice:

"The Chosen One has fallen; to be precise, He was murdered. Thus, following Rank 235: Daughter of the Machine Elements, and Rank 15: Lord of Eternal Crimson, Rank 51: The Chosen One is the third god to fall in this era. Two of them were killed by your own hands, and the other, according to reliable sources, was killed by Dark and the dragon named Adaloni."

"So, the Chosen One is dead, but Dark and Adaloni are still alive? Does the Federal Council know their whereabouts?" Wright suddenly stood up excitedly, looked at Shaneva, and asked urgently.

“Of course. The Federal Council’s intelligence-gathering capabilities are far stronger than you imagine. It’s only because of the incompetence of the previous administrators that we haven’t been able to end the wasteland and save civilization. Otherwise, with our power, we could control any information we need and achieve any goal we set.” Shaneva stared at Wright, who was now slightly flustered with eagerness, a smug smile playing on her lips.

However, as a leader, concealing one's emotions is a required course. Shaneva simply crossed her legs calmly and asked indifferently:
"If I'm willing to tell you their exact location, can you do one last thing for me and the Federal Council before leaving? In return, I'm willing to provide you with sufficient supplies and weapons to assist you in crossing the Aventures no-man's-land. You only need to agree to one more request."

A request? Isn't this just one last thing? Or is there another request to fulfill besides this? Typical of the Federation Council leaders, greedy enough. But since Dark and Adaloni are confirmed to be alive, meeting them is worthwhile, as long as I don't have to fight them.

Wright stood by the table, his hands supporting his weight on the crimson surface, and pondered:
However, the Chosen One has fallen. I remember that when I first transmigrated to this world, I dreamed of the Chosen One several times. "Red-faced Hein," who fought alongside me before, also mentioned the Chosen One many times. Even that time at the inn in Chekavsk, it was the power of the Chosen One that commanded me to write many incredible words of the Fire Empire.

If he were to perish completely, perhaps a shackle that had bound my fate would be broken. Now, the "Resurrected God" who imprisoned me is dead, the Daughter of the Machine is dead, the Chosen One has fallen, and even all the humans who summoned me to this world are dead.

It seems I can finally take control of my own destiny.

After a silence of three to five minutes, Wright slightly withdrew the "Dark Touch" that had been writhing wildly with his thoughts, then suddenly looked up, gazing into Shaneva's expectant brown eyes, nodded slightly, and said:
“In that case, I’m willing to do one last thing for you and grant you one last request. But you must guarantee that I can leave here, and that I will leave here with healthy Dak and Adaloni.”

"That's not a problem. My request is simple: if you make a name for yourself in Khitanris in the future, or even establish your own organization and become a leader, please don't interfere in any of Krusd's affairs," Shaneva said, her arms crossed and her hands resting on the table.

Wright was no longer the naive young man he was when he first arrived in this world. He had experienced life and death, and had seen all kinds of humans and lost souls, so he naturally understood what Shaneva meant.

This arrogant leader not only had enough confidence to maintain a stable grip on Crusad's power, but also enough confidence to end the existence of the "heartless" and the lost within its borders. She naturally knew that Wright, possessing extraordinary powers such as the Red Magic Source, had a limitless future.

Therefore, since it cannot be stopped, we should make investments in advance to avoid future conflicts on the battlefield.

After thinking for a few seconds, Lai nodded in agreement:

"If that day ever comes, the army I lead will not enter Crusad. Neither the human army nor the army of the Lost."

“Very well, then, the last thing I need you to do for me is to kill Nabrius, who is hiding in the space created by the [Core of Chidanria] beneath the 'Fortress Layer'. This time, I will go with you and Mikhail to witness the death of this old adversary.” Shaneva said, a sinister and eerie laugh spreading across her face.