The Monster is Coming

Chapter 469 Choice, Honor and Disgrace

The development of Xinxing Valley has become increasingly brilliant with each passing year.

The city skyline continues to rise, and the network of energy rails, like vines in a forest, extends to every emerging urban area.

The old, low-rise stone houses were systematically demolished and replaced with skyscrapers using new alloy frames.

The streets became wider, the public hovercraft services became more frequent, and the city center began to plan and build a larger, multi-level transportation hub.

Under Qiming's leadership, the communications department successfully upgraded "Lingyutong" to its third generation, achieving stable real-time voice transmission.

The torrent of information surges at high speed through the neural network of Xinxing Valley, making the city's operation more efficient.

The "Thunder Armor Project" of Fierce Claw has already been iterated to the fifth generation.

The Thunder Armor Type 5 comprehensively enhances the performance of soldiers, achieving a high degree of integration with the individual soldier's "Crystal Energy Gun" and tactical data link sharing at the legion level.

The military force of New Star Valley is like a meticulously armed steel behemoth, with sharp claws and keen senses.

On the other hand, the path of introspection, though lacking groundbreaking breakthroughs, is quietly changing the very foundation of the community.

Under the influence of the "Spirit-Guiding Breathing Method" and the improved gene-optimization agent, the new generation of Rongling has significantly improved their average physical fitness and has a greater affinity for energy than their ancestors.

Although this change is slow, it lays a more solid foundation for the future of the community.

Everything presented a thriving scene.

Resources flowed back from the conquered lands, technology flourished in all fields, the population continued to grow, and the flame of civilization had never shone so brightly.

Tu Hu witnessed all of this.

His chronic illness was like a persistent carbuncle, never disappearing, and he needed to drink increasingly strong liquor to suppress it.

But in contrast, time seemed to have stood still for him.

His appearance is exactly the same as it was back in the Black Thorn Forest.

Time washes away everything, but it has bypassed him.

During this period, drinking alcohol every day became a habit that was integrated into his daily life.

His figure is often seen moving through the ever-changing steel jungle.

Sometimes it's from the top of the tallest building, overlooking the dazzling city below.

Sometimes it's in an inconspicuous corner bar, listening to the locals talk about their work troubles or interesting things in life.

Sometimes, he would appear outside the window of a research institute, silently watching the busy figures inside, his gaze seemingly piercing through time, seeing the dark eyes and wisdom of the past.

Occasionally, a child's voice would break his reverie.

"Look, it's our ancestor!"

A baby, led by its mother, pointed at him with wide, round eyes, looking at him with curiosity and a hint of awe.

The adult spirits nearby would quickly pull the cub back and respectfully bow to him:

"Hello, ancestor!"

Young Rongling tribe members, whether they meet him by chance on the street or at some other occasion, will call him by this name from the bottom of their hearts.

This address, "Ancestor," carries the respect and love of the entire clan for him.

He is seen as a living fossil of history by the Rongling people, and a witness and protector of the rise of civilization.

The memories grew richer and richer, making recalling the past a part of his tiger-hunting life.

Walking past the newly built cinema and watching the changing lights and shadows inside, he recalled the young face of the Dream Weaver Clan who listened to him tell stories by the campfire when he first arrived at New Star Valley.

As I ride through the convenient hovercraft between skyscrapers, I recall the arduous journey I led a new generation of Rongling tribe members through the desert, carrying my pack and trudging through the deep and shallow waters.

The wheels of civilization roll ever onward, crushing the past and reshaping it into something new.

The history seen through the eyes of the new generation of Rongling people is a series of vivid memories that he can never forget and that keep replaying in his mind.

Heavy memories and the ever-changing scene before him intertwined to create the complex and indescribable taste in his cup.

Loneliness surged like a tide in the still of the night, almost overwhelming him.

He watched as familiar faces grew old and passed away, while he himself was like a reef forgotten on the shore by the river of time.

However, deep within this increasingly intense loneliness, another emotion, like a new sprout struggling to emerge from a crack in the rock, grows tenaciously: anticipation for the future.

When he saw Lie Zhao commanding the Thunder Armor Legion's training with perfect ease during military exercises, demonstrating tactical coordination far surpassing that of Alan's era, he was deeply moved.

When he heard Jing Si's report that a new generation of cubs had emerged with special individuals who were naturally sensitive to energy, and that the popularization of "spirit-guiding breathing techniques" was nurturing immeasurable future potential for the clan.

When he used the latest communicator developed by Qiming to instantly engage in cross-space dialogue with a remote border outpost and experience the immense power of the information network that tightly connects the entire civilization into one, he clearly realized that this civilization, which he had personally watched rise from the ashes, be tempered in wandering, and grow in setbacks, was rushing toward a future that even he could not foresee at a speed that exceeded his initial imagination.

The Rongling civilization no longer struggled for survival, but began to explore the essence of power, build an efficient society, and even touched the threshold of life evolution.

The path they walked still faintly revealed traces of the Dreamweaver Clan's knowledge system.

However, it incorporates the resilience, wisdom, and wildness honed by hardship that belong to the Rongling people.

But the growth of civilization is destined to involve constant setbacks.

The facade of prosperity was shattered on a peaceful afternoon.

An urgent communication from the distant border, filled with fear, was relayed back to the command center of Nova Valley.

An unprecedented foreign army is sweeping across the border defenses with unstoppable force.

The elite legion under Liezhao, equipped with Thunder Armor Type 5, went to meet the enemy, attempting to recreate the glory of countless past victories against powerful foes.

However, the battle turned out to be one-sided.

The enemy's individual strength was suffocating; they used a more advanced form of blood energy. Lei Kai's armor was like paper in the face of that attack, and his energy shield shattered instantly due to overload.

The legion couldn't even delay the enemy for more than half a day before it was almost completely wiped out, with only a few remnants retreating to the secondary defense line in despair.

Subsequent intelligence gathered through desperate reconnaissance revealed that these seemingly invincible and overwhelming enemies were actually slave soldiers.

It is a tool for carrying out conquest orders for higher races.

However, the Rongling tribe's frontline legions were unable to even contend with the enemy's slaves.

This news was like a biting cold wind, instantly freezing all the noise and confidence in New Star Valley.

Silence fell over the command center.

Fierce Claw stared intently at the red marker on the sand table representing the enemy forces, which were advancing inland at a steady pace. His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into the metal tabletop, leaving deep dents.

Its proud war power is utterly vulnerable in the face of true strength.

Despair spread like a plague.

In this suffocating atmosphere, Tu Hu's voice rang out calmly, like a thunderclap in everyone's ears:

Let's negotiate.

He stood in front of the sand table, his gaze sweeping over every face, whether pale, angry, or desperate.

"According to intelligence from the front lines, this tribe has enslaved multiple tribes, making them slaves for their territorial expansion and resource extraction... Perhaps we can try to negotiate... become their vassals, pay resources, accept their rule, and exchange them for a chance to survive."

boom!
This sentence instantly ignited a volcano of suppressed anger.

"Impossible!" Fierce Claw roared, turning abruptly to stare at Tiger Slayer with his crimson eyes, his voice trembling with extreme anger and humiliation.
"Tiger Lord, you are the faith of all of us. You taught us to never give in. You led us out of the sea of ​​blood in Star Valley. Now you want us to kneel down and become slaves of other races. What about all our struggles over the years? Teacher Lanxing, Aunt Huixin... all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives, didn't their blood go to waste? We would rather die standing than live on our knees."

"The leader of Fierce Claw is right!" An old general with white hair and beard, who had lived through the early days of Nova Valley, stood up shakily, tears streaming down his face:

"Tiger Lord, our Rongling tribe can die in battle, can be wiped out, but our backbone cannot be broken. Back in the Blackthorn Forest, in the desert, no matter how difficult it was, we never bowed our heads to anyone. Now that we finally have New Star Valley, you want us to willingly become slaves? This glory and perseverance are engraved in our blood. Are they all fake?"

"Tiger Lord." Jing Si, who had been silent all along, spoke up at this moment. Her face was pale, but her eyes were firm:
“Being a vassal means losing all autonomy. Our civilization, our knowledge, our children… will all become the property of others. This is more terrible than death. We would rather fight to the death and inspire future generations with our blood than entrust the future of our civilization to the mercy of our enemies.”

The crowd was outraged, and almost everyone stood against the tiger-slaying.

Questioning, grief, confusion, and anger surged within the command center.

Faced with the surging waves, Tu Hu's expression remained unwavering, his eyes filled with a sorrow heavier than despair.

He took a slow step forward, his voice not loud, yet it drowned out all the noise:

"Glory? Perseverance?" He repeated these two words, his voice weary.

"When Alan charged into battle to the death for his tribe, was he thinking of glory, or of fighting for your survival?"

"When Ah Fen sacrificed herself for the survival of the new generation, did she care about the backbone of the nation or the lives of the children?"

"We fled Star Valley back then because we couldn't win, so we wanted to preserve the flame, not because we wanted to die a glorious death."

His gaze was like a blade, scraping across the fierce claws, the contemplative minds, and every member of the enraged management team:
"Death means the end of everything. Glory is for the living to remember; the dead cannot feel it!"

"It's easy to die standing up; just stiffen your neck and it's all over. But to live, especially to live with humiliation, waiting for a slim, almost nonexistent chance of a turnaround... that takes real courage!"

He slammed his hand on the table, the heavy metal surface producing a dull thud that sent a shiver down everyone's spine.
"Tell me, is your fragile ego more important, or is the continuation of your tribe more important?!"

"By becoming slaves, at least we can leave behind seeds, knowledge, and memories. As long as there is one person left, civilization has not truly perished!"

"If we fight to the last drop of our strength now, that would be true betrayal—betrayal of all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives, betrayal of the very foundation upon which our people continue to exist!"

He surveyed the crowd, each word striking like a hammer blow to the soul of every person:

"I have not asked you to forget your hatred or abandon your honor. I want you to... endure this humiliation, engrave it into your bones, and live with it!"

"As long as we live, there is hope. As long as the flame is not extinguished, even in the darkest swamp, we must grit our teeth and wait for the day when we break through the soil."

"This is true perseverance, and this is the greatest respect you can show to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives."

The command center was deathly silent.

The only sounds were heavy breathing and the cracking of knuckles from the excessive force of Fierce Claw's fists.

Tu Hu's words were like a cruel bone-scraping knife, peeling away the cloak of passion and glory to reveal the most naked and brutal truth about survival.

Is it better to choose a meaningless and glorious destruction, or to bear eternal shame and gamble on a slim chance of revenge?

This decision is as heavy as a mountain.

"The decision is yours," Tu Hu said, turning and leaving the command room.

The heavy metal door slowly closed behind him, locking away a deathly silence.

Time seemed to freeze.

The glaring red markers on the sand table were slowly advancing, like a sharp knife pressed against a throat, forcing everyone to make a decision.

Fierce Claw remained in that position, his fists clenched tightly, his nails digging into the table, his body trembling slightly from extreme emotion.

Anger, humiliation, and resentment surged within him like magma.

He almost roared as he gave the order to gather all forces and perish together with the enemy.

The conference room fell into a long, deathly silence, each second feeling like a year.

Just then, a voice from his memory rang in Fierce Claw's mind.

That was his teacher, Lan Xing, who, after drinking, told him a story with a complex and indescribable smile.

During their wandering journey, Tiger King ran out of food, but he gave the last of his food to him, indicating that he was not hungry.

The young teacher believed it and wolfed it down with the other children.

It wasn't until much later that his teacher realized that even the seemingly invincible Tiger Uncle could feel hunger, pain, and blood.

He simply gave them priority in the chance to survive.

An indescribable bitterness suddenly rushed to Lie Zhao's nose, almost overwhelming the tears he was trying to hold back.

All the anger and humiliation were quietly dispelled at this moment by this distant memory.

Tiger never taught them to be obsequious; he taught them responsibility, to protect, and to sacrifice everything for something more important, even if it meant putting aside personal honor and feelings.

Back then, in order to keep the children alive, he could endure hunger and say: I'm not hungry.

Today, in order to ensure the continuation of the clan's lineage, he can withstand everyone's incomprehension and anger and propose "surrender".

The past and the present are so similar.

Lie Zhao slowly loosened his clenched fist, leaving several bloody dents on the table.

He raised his head and looked around at every face that was filled with grief, confusion, or unwavering resilience.

His voice was extremely hoarse.
"Quietly contemplate and seal away and protect all research materials, especially all the data from 'The Path to Enlightenment' and the Dreamweaver Clan crystals. Hide as much as you can."

Jing Si looked at him abruptly, her eyes filled with shock and confusion.

Lie Zhao offered no explanation; instead, he looked at the old general and all the military commanders:
"Order all combat units to cease all futile resistance, retreat, avoid the enemy's main force... and preserve their strength."

"Fierce Claw, you..." The old general's eyes were bloodshot.

"Execute the order!" Claw roared, his voice filled with an undeniable, painful resolve, then he took a deep breath:

“My teacher, Lan Xing, once said that the biggest lie he had ever heard was when they had just escaped from Xingxing Valley and were running out of food.”

His gaze swept over the crowd, as if he were looking at that era when people were struggling to move forward in the barren wilderness:
"Tiger stuffed the last piece of jerky he had on him into my teacher Lanxing's hands, patted his head and said: 'Uncle Tiger isn't hungry, you can share it.'"

Fierce Claw surveyed the entire arena, his voice low and deep:
"We only remember that Tiger taught us to hold our weapons tightly and to have a sense of collective honor, but what we should remember even more is that Tiger was willing to give up himself without hesitation so that we could survive."

"As Tiger said, dying standing up is a relief, but living on in humiliation for those who sacrificed for us... that's the most real thing Tiger taught us."

He slammed his fist heavily on the edge of the sand table:
"Surrender is not to prolong our lives, but to leave behind hope that one day we can repay this humiliation a thousandfold."

He took another deep breath, as if using all his strength, to force the humiliating word out of his throat:

"In the name of the highest administrator of Nova Valley... we are seeking assistance from the enemy..."

He paused for a long time, and finally, almost through gritted teeth, uttered those two words:
"...seek...negotiation."

The moment he uttered the last two words, Claw seemed to have all his strength drained away. His body swayed, and he instinctively reached out to hold onto the cold control panel before he could barely stand.

The command center was deathly silent.

They understood that from this moment on, the backbone of the Rongling people was forced to bend for survival.

But they understood even more clearly that what the Fierce Claw who made this decision, and the ancestor who made this suggestion, had endured was far heavier than a heroic death.

Humiliation became a bitter pill they had to swallow.

Hope was buried in the soil of shame, waiting for the flowers to bloom, though it was uncertain when.

Just then, the heavy metal door slid open silently.

Tu Hu reappeared at the command room door, still clutching the wine bottle in his hand.

Without looking at anyone, he walked straight to the sand table, his gaze falling on the ever-advancing red markers.

He tilted his head back and drank the remaining wine in the bottle in one gulp.

The wine rolled down my throat, but it couldn't wash away the bitterness in my heart.

The empty bottle slammed heavily against the edge of the sand table with a dull thud.
"I'll go to the negotiations."

Fierce Claw suddenly looked up, his lips trembling, a thousand words stuck in his throat.

Tu Hu raised his hand, a simple gesture silencing all unspoken words.

His gaze slowly swept across the entire room, passing over every pale, young, and frustrated face.

“I’ve lived long enough, but you have a long road ahead of you. If your spine is bent, you can straighten it again, but if the flame is extinguished… then you will truly have nothing left.”

He turned around, his back looking particularly rugged under the lamplight, yet in the eyes of the Rongling people, he was a mountain that bore the weight of the entire civilization.

“I am the most suitable to go. You are the future, the root of revenge. This first taste of the bitter fruit of shame... I, this old bone, will be the first to taste it.”

After Tu Hu finished speaking, a sense of sorrow filled the conference room.

All eyes were fixed on Tu Hu's retreating figure, their eyes filled with tears.

In their eyes, their ancestor remained unchanged, shouldering the heaviest shackles alone.

(End of this chapter)