From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Chapter 713 is like an abandoned corpse.

The first to step through the portal were, as always, a large number of hellhounds, which were biological weapons.

Furthermore, after multiple iterations and upgrades, equipped with exoskeleton armor, they resemble steel beasts with robust limbs and various wired devices mounted on their backs.

Following closely behind was a neatly advancing line of reconnaissance Terminators.

These machines are about two meters tall, covered with composite armor of titanium alloy and carbon fiber, with a cold and sharp skeleton.

Their eyes gleamed with a scarlet light, and each of them moved in perfect unison, with a chilling rhythm.

They showed no emotion, no hesitation or doubt, and moved with meticulous precision, wielding heavy railguns and plasma cutters.

These mechanical warriors also carry wired devices to ensure that they can maintain real-time communication with the Empire even after traversing unknown spaces.

As these creatures and mechanical weapons gradually stepped inside, ripples spread across the surface of the portal, as if a lake had been pierced by a boulder.

Meanwhile, the technicians monitored the data and kept a close eye on the communication channel to confirm whether the signal was stable.

"Energy flow is smooth and signal access is stable."

The technician's voice rang out.

The emperor remained motionless, merely gazing at the void gate. Without a word, each department understood the significance they bore.

As for the other side of that light screen, what awaits them may be a desolate wasteland, or a dangerous alien world.

But at this moment, the ironclad power of the empire has already taken its first step.

Soon after, as the monitoring signal stabilized, the scene on the other side of the space gate was gradually transmitted to the holographic screen of the reconnaissance troops.

The unknown territory, a scene resembling purgatory, slowly unfolded on the screen.

The earth cracked into countless fissures, as if the veins of a planet had been completely shattered, and what gushed out from the fissures was not spring water, but scalding lava.

The crimson magma flowed like blood vessels, rushing down the rift valley, occasionally bursting into blazing flames. The surging heat waves were so intense that they could make people feel scorched even in front of the holographic projection.

The towering volcanic cones on the earth's surface rise and fall in waves, constantly spewing out flames and thick smoke, blotting out the sky.

Preliminary environmental analysis data was quickly displayed on various panels.

The atmosphere is complex and highly toxic, and contains not enough oxygen for human respiration.

Radiation levels are abnormal; all indicators have exceeded the red alert level.
The gravitational fluctuations are extremely unstable, as if the core of this planet has suffered some kind of irreversible damage, losing the complete protection of its magnetic field and atmosphere.

In short, the environment there is simply not suitable for humans to survive in their natural state.

Upon seeing this, officers and scientific monitors at all levels of the reconnaissance force immediately reached a consensus that the other side of the space gate was not suitable for the engineering department to immediately cross over and construct a forward base.

To establish a base, a large-scale reconnaissance force must first stabilize the surrounding area to ensure safety.

"The situation near the spatial gate is stable, with no external interference."

"No hostile targets confirmed."

Calm reports echoed through the command center.

Thus, under the emperor's silent gaze, more than a thousand members of the reconnaissance force, equipped with power suits, began their crossing operation one after another.

They were traveling on not only light assault boats and ground armored vehicles, but also flying platforms designed specifically for low-altitude rapid assaults.

The roar of the engine gradually coalesced into a deep, resonant vibration that shook the air in the core area of ​​the ruins.

As the order was given, the column slowly began to march towards the "Void Gate" leading to the unknown, and the officer leading the vanguard of this reconnaissance force was Gary "Little Strong" Sanderson.
As a senior officer in the reconnaissance unit, he could have been stationed in the rear, with the primary responsibility being to command the overall situation.

However, "Xiaoqiang" was never content with comfort. He always personally led his men to the front lines and ventured into those desolate worlds untouched by the light of the empire.

For him, only by being on the battlefield could he confirm the authenticity of all tactical data.

As he walked to the portal, a dazzling white light instantly filled all his vision.

The intense light, as always, was not stinging, but rather a pure and radiant glow, carrying an unexpected warmth and tranquility.

It seemed to soothe the soldiers' tense nerves, dispel their inner doubts, and bring them a sense of inexplicable peace.

Xiaoqiang felt that every inch of his skin was enveloped in that radiance, immersed in a gentle warmth. He felt no fear, no anxiety, only a brief sense of relief.

However, this tranquility lasted only a few breaths.

As his vision returned to normal and he stepped across the light barrier, the scene from the other side rushed towards him—

The blazing waves of fire were as scorching as the breath of a demon.

The churning lava fountains roared as they erupted from the depths of the rift valley;
Thick clouds, stained red by the flames, floated in the sky, resembling a dome of ashes from a fire.

Gravity was sometimes heavy, pressing down on the hydraulic system of the power suit with a low hiss, and sometimes suddenly light, causing the soldier's steps to become unbalanced upon landing.

The pulse of the earth seemed to emanate from the soles of my boots, as if the entire planet were struggling to survive.

"Watch your step."

A junior officer whispered a reminder, which was relayed to the entire squad via the helmet-mounted communication system.

Xiaoqiang looked around and confirmed that the various teams were crossing in order. Hellhounds and Terminators were scattered in front, using the cold order of machinery and biology to detect unknown threats.

The crimson mechanical eyes and the crimson magma complement each other, as if two different "life forms" are gazing at each other.

Even though the power kit has an advanced filtration system and can continue to operate in a vacuum environment, it's not hard to imagine that the air is filled with a nauseating sulfur smell. Even through the power kit, one can still "smell" that corrosive burning sensation.

Red alerts for various data flashed repeatedly on the helmet screens, but the troops' formation remained unshaken.

This is the Empire's reconnaissance force, capable of facing a hellish world head-on and establishing order and a sense of order in the first instance.

Xiaoqiang took a deep breath; he knew this was just the beginning.

Immediately afterwards, the adjutant's voice came through the communication channel: "All departments, listen up! Immediately establish makeshift outposts around the space gate to ensure subsequent security."

Immediately, a series of confirmation responses came in.

Soldiers in each echelon quickly dispersed amidst the blazing firelight and began constructing temporary defensive positions.

The deployable shield generator was inserted into the scorched earth, emitting a low hum, and the energy fence gradually extended into a translucent barrier, like a light curtain surrounding the space gate.

Ground vehicles then detached their modular sentry towers and detection arrays to form the first temporary line of defense.

At the same time, the drone launch bays carried by armored vehicles unfolded, and hundreds of high-altitude and near-Earth orbit reconnaissance drones, spewing blue ion tail flames, quickly took off through the scorching smoke.

Their fuselages, illuminated by the blazing flames, refracted a cold metallic sheen, like the "eyes" of an empire, piercing the dome of this desolate world.

Xiao Qiang himself remained as taciturn as ever. As a commander, he was not accustomed to using lengthy language to embellish orders, but rather to establishing the direction of the troops through actions.

At this moment, he boarded a low-altitude hovering assault vehicle with his adjutant and a few close subordinates.

The engine roared amidst the molten lava heat, the magnetic levitation engine started, lifting the vehicle several feet off the ground and steadily driving out of the core area of ​​the front line.

The car body "cut" through the scorching air and sped along the broken earth.

The surrounding scene was like an elegy for destruction.

A lava fountain exploded nearby, sending blazing magma soaring into the sky like a pillar of fire tearing through the heavens before cascading down and splashing onto the charred rocks, sending sparks flying.

The fiery red lava flowed along the cracks in the earth, meandering into the distance, like blood coursing through the entire barren land.

A mist of toxic fumes billowed out from the cracks in the ground, enveloping the air.

The assault vehicle's filtration system was operating at full capacity, emitting a rapid pumping sound, to keep out the gases that were corrosive enough to damage flesh.

The vehicle continued forward, sometimes leaping over collapsed stone bridges, sometimes skimming along the edges of cracks.

In the distance, the volcanoes continued to spew out black and red smoke, the sound like the roar of hell, vibrating the air and even penetrating the vehicle's armor to the chest cavity.

The journey of a few kilometers seemed to stretch out infinitely in such treacherous conditions.

Finally, the assault vehicle reached a towering hillside, the magnetic levitation engine suddenly retracted, and with a low aftershock, the vehicle came to a steady stop at the top of the hill.

Xiaoqiang and his adjutant got out of the car, their heavy magnetic boots making a hard, resounding sound as they stepped on the charred rocks.

They looked up and their view suddenly opened up.

What came into view was a true hell.

The basin below was completely submerged by lava, forming a churning lake of fire.

Bubbles churned on the lake's surface, then suddenly burst, spewing forth flames hundreds of meters high.

The flames dyed the surrounding sky crimson, as if the flesh and blood of the entire planet were burning.

Around the lake, countless boulders piled up into hills, and with each volcanic eruption, these boulders would crash down and be swallowed by lava once more.

The air was filled with ash and poisonous fog.

The poisonous gases spewing from the depths of the cracks had an eerie reddish-purple sheen, like cursed mist spewed by vengeful spirits from the earth.

Even through the helmet, one can sense the deadly poison and death it contains.

The adjutant frowned and said in a low voice, "Sir, the structure of this planet is extremely unstable."

If a forward base is to be established here, the engineering department will likely need to deploy planetary-level engineering ships to stabilize the earth's crust and magnetic field; otherwise, any buildings will be reduced to ashes in the next seismic or volcanic eruption.

Alternatively, a more prudent approach would be to establish a large space station directly in low Earth orbit, serving as the central command and resupply hub.

The adjutant's tone was calm, and every word conveyed an undeniable reality.

Xiao Qiang stood atop the slope, gazing silently at the distant lake of fire, his faceplate reflecting a blazing red light.

He paused for a moment before responding succinctly: "We'll discuss the next steps after the drones transmit enough intelligence and data."

Xiaoqiang's words were brief, yet carried an undeniable tone.

In the distance, hundreds of drones, like falcons, darted between flames and smoke, casting silent gazes upon every corner of this dying planet.

Xiaoqiang and his men stood silently on the hilltop, letting the blazing light of the lava illuminate their figures.

Before long, the swarm of drones in near-Earth orbit began to transmit a continuous stream of real-time images back to Earth.

The data stream flickered on the command channel and on Xiaoqiang's helmet screen, stitching together frame by frame to create a grand panorama unlike anything seen before.

The scene shifts, and Xiaoqiang's vision seems to be lifted to a great height.

Through the drone's lens, he surveyed the entire planet from a "viewer's" perspective, and at that moment, he almost held his breath.

The truth soon became clear: not only was the area around the portal like a hellish inferno, but the Earth-like planet itself had been completely transformed into a "hellish star."

Plains and mountains alike were swallowed up by a thick ocean of molten lava.

Those continental plates that should have existed are now torn apart and broken, like disordered puzzle pieces, misaligned and tilted, with endless flames gushing from the cracks.

In some areas, entire mountain ranges can be seen being swallowed by lava flows, instantly turning into crimson ashes. The toxic haze that permeates the sky displays strange colors such as red and purple, overlapping each other, as if painting an oil painting made of death in this sky.

But what truly shook everyone was not the hellish panorama, but the horrifying sight captured by the drone as it continued its journey and reached the sunlit side of the planet.

The ground there seemed to have been torn apart by an invisible, enormous force.

Large-scale continental plates and rock formations, neatly arranged yet eerily suspended below near-Earth orbit.

The huge fragments hung in the air, their surfaces still flowing with fiery red lava, resembling a floating volcanic island.

What's truly astonishing is that this torn tectonic plate did not completely disintegrate or fall; instead, it remained stagnant within a "cage" woven by some kind of force.

Around it, several beams of energy radiating a bluish-green glow crisscrossed, binding the planet's remains like giant chains.

The beam of light flickered incessantly, its energy fluctuating violently, as if it were fighting against some uncontrolled force within the planet. It was precisely because of this that the planet had not completely collapsed and remained in this precarious state.

The drone's camera zoomed in further and finally captured the source of the beam of light.

It was a ship lying across the track.

According to the detection data, its hull is about 1,700 meters long, and its surface is covered with huge energy emission arrays. It is these devices that shoot blue beams of light at the planet, forming that strange binding net.

Seeing this, the adjutant quickly turned his gaze to Xiaoqiang, his tone filled with undisguised seriousness: "Sir, could this be a human engineering vessel from this universe? Are they mining this planet, or trying to prevent its collapse?"

Xiao Qiang remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the image of the warship.

The magnified image clearly shows that the ship's hull is covered with cracks and scorch marks, as if it had been severely burned in an extreme energy storm.

The once smooth alloy armor is now riddled with scratches, revealing its internal, fractured structure.

The bridge area was particularly noticeable, with its portholes completely dark, devoid of any lights or signs of activity.

In the silence, Xiao Qiang's voice finally rang out, his tone steady: "Maybe, but judging from the state of this ship, it seems to have come to a standstill."

No light shone through the portholes of the bridge; the entire ship looked like an abandoned corpse.

If it truly is an engineering vessel belonging to the 20th generation of humans, then they likely encountered an uncontrollable accident while carrying out some massive operation.

(End of this chapter)