Cosmic Demon

Chapter 292: Everyone's fishing, while both sides are popping champagne!

"He really thinks he's Qi Wuxiang or He Lanchan!"

"Such blatant provocation, aren't they afraid of being targeted and killed by concentrated fire?"

"Interesting! This is the first time I've ever seen such a high-profile sun!"

"Doesn't he know that geniuses on the battlefield are often the ones who die young the fastest...?"

At the front-line nest complex, several powerful waves of consciousness intersected, as if in conversation.

Some of the leader-level followers were eager to kill the genius and please the Chaos Demon.

Rumbling--

A deafening roar, like muffled thunder, swept across the sky, as if a chariot were speeding by.

"Russell is here!"

"Is it that 'Deep One' that devoured its own kind?"

"Yes."

"How terrifying! This guy is willing to exterminate all his kind in order to evolve..."

The nest complex, those shadowy mental fluctuations suddenly dispersed, like waves being cleaved open.

The void is like a vast and boundless ocean, where creatures dwell, and their spiritual power is projected into various forms.

Some resemble orcas, fierce and ruthless; some are like giant sharks, exuding a strong bloodthirsty aura; some are like pterosaurs, soaring freely, like a storm...

But compared to the creatures that were called "Russell the Deep," they all paled in comparison.

It seemed to be the apex predator of the food chain, roaming the vast void. The form of its mental projection was extremely terrifying, with eight long legs that stretched for hundreds of meters, each swing stirring up raging waves.

"And there's 'Insight' Kazan, the leader of the Thunder Falcon clan!"

"Is that guy behind Kazan Dekaja, the Spider-Man? I heard he has a good chance of reaching the fourth level of evolution!"

"Descartes has submitted to 'The Insightful' Kazan, willingly becoming his servant!"

"Heh, you want Kazan to avenge your people? Foolish..."

The nest complex appears to be situated on a dense network of islands in the void ocean, where countless familiar creatures roam.

The social hierarchy among them is clearly defined, maintaining a relatively primitive law of the jungle.

A powerful clan or family group occupies more space and more resources;

The weaker party is squeezed to the margins and huddled in a corner.

As far as the front lines are concerned, the two most prominent mental projections are none other than Russell the Deep and Kazan the Insightful.

They occupy the south and north respectively, like two thick ink marks, slowly spreading out and wantonly dominating the external space.

"Humanity's arrogance is too much. Since it wants to be bait to catch fish, then let's swallow it whole!"

The Deep One Russell resembled a gray-green squid magnified a hundred times, its eight long legs waving wildly.

"It's time to fight back and let humanity know that they can never defeat our kind. We are born from the void, we worship chaos, and death is not our final destination!"

Kazan the Insightful One was clad in a tattered black robe, the garments appearing to writhe like flesh and blood.

"Despite his formidable fighting prowess, he killed Morgan, Hector, and Noor in succession."

But it was precisely this victory that blinded him, preventing him from truly recognizing his own insignificance.

"Kazan the Insightful One," he said in a low voice.

Compared to their primal instincts and bestial nature, they are among the few creatures that possess strategic thinking.

"What's your plan?"

"Deep Diver Russell asked."

"It's in the works."

Kazan the Insightful responded.

After the two predators, who were close to the top of their respective groups, finished their exchange, their mental fluctuations quickly subsided.

……

……

"I disagree!"

Yao Guodong slammed his fist on the table, ready to overturn the "order from above" conveyed by Tai Junzi.

"Lieutenant Qin has demonstrated the outstanding qualities of 'Proud Sun' in every aspect through his undeniable strength!"

There's absolutely no need to take that risk! That's the front line; almost all the related clans are concentrated there, including terrifying beings at the fourth level of the Disaster Realm!

Tai Junzi said helplessly:
"This was Lieutenant Qin's own suggestion, and it was agreed upon by the Western Front Command and approved by the Governor's Office."

Yao Guodong was furious and gritted his teeth, saying:
"I still disagree! They can't just focus on the result of winning. Yes, the front lines need a shot in the arm to boost morale!"
But what if, what if they lose? The scorching sun of Hengzhou is surrounded and hunted down, ultimately dying! If this news spreads, chaos will ensue on both the eastern and western fronts!

Tai Junzi responded:

"Due to the explicit provisions of the confidentiality agreement, I cannot tell you the specific reasons, but unless the slumbering Star God awakens, Lieutenant Qin is definitely the safest person on this planet."

Yao Guodong was skeptical. The active consciousness could not lie to the Chief Executive, let alone conceal the truth; this was the most basic logical instruction.

But he couldn't figure out where the Governor's Office's absolute confidence in Lieutenant Qin came from.
Humanity's blazing sun, making a grand and high-profile appearance on the front lines of the battlefield, is bound to attract the attention of the Chaos faction.

If the reward is generous enough, even the fourth-level calamity's allies will intervene.

There are too many unpredictable variables and risks involved.

“Lord Yao, I don’t need to teach you the principle that ‘a soldier’s duty is to obey.’”

Tai Junzi spoke calmly, and Yao Guodong immediately lost his temper, muttering:
"They build huge businesses without a second thought! That's the sun! They're willing to gamble it away!"

A moment later, Yao Guodong gave the order for Baiyang Fortress to open its communication channel and connect to the front-line broadcast.

……

……

Several days later, the Kirov airship pierced the pale gray sky.

Qin Shi straightened his peaked hat and slowly stood up.

Long Qiuyuan opened the cabin door, and a strong gust of wind rushed in.

His coat was blown up by the wind, his hair was disheveled, and Qin Shi's gaze turned serious. Below him was the front line.

At an altitude of nearly two thousand meters, the forward positions on the western front were so clearly visible that they were chilling.

It wasn't the simple lines on the sand table, but rather jagged, scorched trenches, like ugly scars left after the earth has been repeatedly torn apart.

Between the trenches lay scorched earth, barren from repeated artillery fire, scattered with twisted metal wreckage and unrecognizable fragments.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder, ozone, and a faint, strange odor of blood and decay.

Those incredibly genuine "feelings" were the information received and perceived by Qin Shi's emotional fluctuations.

"This is the battlefield."

Even with his eyes closed, Qin Shi could see numerous figures moving and crawling.

The new recruits huddled behind the firing ports of the trenches, their young faces covered in mud. Beside them stood silent veterans, skillfully changing magazines or giving emergency bandages to their wounded comrades.

On the opposite side of the human side, at the end of the line of sight, is a surging "tide".

That was certainly not real seawater, but a torrent composed of countless distorted creatures exuding an ominous aura.

They crawled low, charged upright, or swooped down with fluttering wings. The aggregates of flesh trudged with heavy steps; predators covered in sharp bony spurs leaped between rocks like fleas; in the sky, swarms of flying retinues, like skinned bats, shrieked and irritating as they swooped down…

They are endless, seemingly gushing forth from the wounds of the earth, roaring and howling, using their claws, acid, and brute force to frantically assault the fragile defenses built by humankind with flesh and steel.

"Boss...should the show begin?"

Long Qiuyuan asked.

"Let's begin. This is their battlefield, and it's also my battlefield."

Qin Shi said solemnly.

He and Long Qiuyuan spent a long time figuring out this "fishing plan," and it took a lot of effort to get the command headquarters at the rear to agree and cooperate.

As Long Qiuyuan said, this was a "performance" that everyone on the western front was eagerly anticipating.

The stage is the front line!

"Boss, don't just focus on the battle, remember to read the script."

Long Qiuyuan reminded him, and very considerately pulled up Qin Shi's collar, while also putting a miniature headset on him. Today, Lieutenant Qin looked even more dashing than usual, with a strong and upright posture, especially in his well-fitting military uniform, where he exuded an excellent air.

"At this moment, your voice and your silhouette will be heard and seen by all the fortified cities on the western front."

Qin Shi nodded, gripped the Perfect Electric Shock Saber tightly in his left hand, grabbed the lifting rope with his right hand, stepped out of the hatch, and slowly descended.

The voices of Long Qiuyuan and Ye Xiaotang filled the earpiece:

"Boss, land in area one, then follow the red arrows and cross the two trenches..."

His military boots sank into the scorched earth, and a straight red arrow appeared in Qin Shi's vision. He moved forward slowly.

This area had clearly been bombarded several times; crossing the trenches, he would reach the front line.

From an overhead perspective, Qin Shi was undoubtedly at the forefront of the western battlefield at this moment.

Like a knife tip, it aims to tear through the defenses of the contaminated area and pierce straight into the heart of the enemy!

"Boss?" Long Qiuyuan's voice entered his mind directly through a special communication channel, carrying a hint of tension that was barely perceptible.

"After the bait was released, the fish reacted...very violently. The 'big thing' deep in the polluted area moved."

Qin Shi was not surprised at all. He was completely confident in his attraction to the creatures he served, after all, it was thirty Chaos Crystals.

"Intense? How intense?"

"Far beyond expectations! According to energy readings, at least three powerful fluctuations approaching the fourth level of the disaster are rapidly encircling you from different directions."

Long Qiuyuan spoke faster.

"They... seem eager to devour you!"

Qin Shi took a deep breath, and the phantom of the white-gold blazing sun flashed and disappeared deep in his pupils.

He realized that both sides seemed to be fishing for his life, and each believed they had the upper hand.

……

……

Western Front Command.

On the massive tactical holographic sand table, a light spot representing the Qin Dynasty hangs alone deep within the contaminated area, surrounded by three scarlet light spots rapidly closing in on it.

"Isn't Lieutenant Qin's position a bit too far inland?"

A staff officer with the rank of major frowned. The original "stage" should have been the front-line camp, not the no-man's land burned to the ground by the war.

"Lieutenant Qin is very opinionated; he has his own ideas."

Tai Junzi said helplessly:
“Just five minutes ago, he changed the ‘stage’ without permission. If it’s set up in the camp, it’s obviously not attractive enough to the creatures he’s fishing for. He hopes that he can use this bait to catch something more dangerous and valuable.”

The staff officer, a major, shook his head:
"This is too reckless, it will increase the risk! There is a fully armed Divine Machine Squadron at the camp! Even if a fourth-level Calamity's subordinate attacks, his safety can be guaranteed!"

Another commander of the same rank also said:
"The nearest unit to Lieutenant Qin would take forty minutes to reach the no-man's land. If the fishing attempt fails, providing support will be very difficult."

He slammed his hand on the control panel. "Jiaoyang... Jiaoyang can't be this arrogant! The front lines aren't a place for individual heroes! If he falls here, the blow to morale will be greater than losing a fortified city!"

The atmosphere instantly became so heavy it was almost palpable.

Tai Junzi repeated the same words he had said to Yao Guodong.

Through repeated calculations of the simulation model, the chances of Qin Shi, who was under the close protection of the court, being in mortal danger were extremely slim.

……

……

Meanwhile, at a temporary position on the front line.

News of the arrival of the human sun spread rapidly among the rank-and-file soldiers through communication channels.

"Have you heard? It's Lieutenant Qin! That Jiaoyang!"

A new recruit, his face covered in gunpowder smoke, lowered his voice, but his eyes gleamed with excitement.

"He's arrived at the front!"

"Really? He... he's really on the front lines?" An old soldier with a bandage wrapped around his arm suddenly looked up, his cloudy eyes flashing with disbelief. "I heard he's a kinslayer, specializing in killing powerful kins!"

"Command has reported! It's confirmed to be Lieutenant Qin!"

A sergeant looked at the updated instructions on his portable terminal, his voice trembling with excitement.

"He's in the no-man's-land! He's going to tear down the defenses of the contaminated zone for us!"

"He's the only one?"

"That's right!"

"As expected of the blazing sun..."

……

……

Qin Shi established himself in an uninhabited area and made no effort to conceal his presence.

The field of the platinum-gold sun naturally unfolded, covering a hundred meters around him, like a bright lighthouse in the dark night.

The energy fluctuations spread out without any concealment, as if announcing to the entire polluted area: He is here.

Real-time intelligence from Long Qiuyuan has arrived:

"Boss, the targets have entered the pre-set area. They are being cautious, hovering at the edge, seemingly checking for an ambush."

Qin Shi responded calmly:
"There was no ambush, only me."

His gaze swept across the seemingly desolate scorched earth, and his telepathic senses, like invisible tentacles, cautiously spread outwards.

Sure enough, several enormous and obscure wills lurked on the edge of perception, carrying greed and cold killing intent, like sharks hiding behind reefs.

They thought they were hunters, cautiously approaching their lone prey.

Little did they know, what they saw as "bait" was waiting for them to bite the hook.

"The first one who couldn't resist has arrived," Long Qiuyuan warned.

boom!
To the left front, space suddenly exploded!

A massive shadow looms—Deep Diver Russell!
"Tsk, here it comes."

Qin Shi's eyes narrowed, and the platinum-gold sun suddenly contracted, concentrating at the tip of his fist!

Facing the colossal maw that blots out the sky, and its eight long legs that stretch for hundreds of meters, he unleashed a punch!
The power that brings together the embryonic form of "reality" is no longer a simple energy surge.

Wherever the fist struck, the space seemed to be forcibly compressed and solidified by an invisible force!
The area imbued with dark energy was evaporated and decomposed!
Qin Shi's fist landed squarely on Russell's long leg!

Stab it!

The long, heavy leg, as heavy as a mountain, exploded, collapsing and shattering inward as if it had been thrown into a hydraulic press!
When the field solidifies into a real prototype, the destructiveness and devastation that Qin Shi can cause are greatly enhanced!
"Boss, the first 'target' to appear is Deep One Russell. It has the talent to roam the void and is very resilient."

Long Qiuyuan's voice was solemn.

"The 'target' lurking in the shadows, based on the analysis of energy fluctuations, is identified as Kazan the Insightful, who possesses an extremely unique mental attack that drags its opponents into the abyss of despair."

The third frequency has not yet been detected, so it cannot be determined.

Roar!
From the right rear, a deafening roar filled with savagery and fury resounded!

With that roar, the sky suddenly darkened. Not with dark clouds, but with a thick, inky black curtain of sky, churning with countless faces of pain and agony, rapidly descending!

A heavy, suffocating sense of despair instantly spread, as if dragging one's soul into an eternal abyss of darkness.

The brilliance of Qin Shi's white-gold sun was instantly obscured, and his domain was eroded and compressed, showing obvious cracks.

“Deep Diver Russell and Insightful Kazan, they are the most outstanding minions on the front lines! Boss, do you need support? Command and the Governor’s Mansion only agreed to give you one stress test, but the pressure is a bit too much now.”

Long Qiuyuan began to worry.

"Support? No need."

Seeing Kazan the Insightful One descend from the sky, and Russell the Deep One launching another attack, Qin Shi grinned.

He gripped the perfect electric shock knife in his hand, the platinum-gold light flowing across the blade, growing brighter and brighter, more and more real.

"Only when the bait is fragrant enough will big fish take the bait."

"Now, it's time to close the net."

"Look... that's the fish that was caught!"

The Platinum Sun erupted from Qin Shi's body, its dazzling light piercing through the Despair Domain and soaring into the sky!

(End of this chapter)