Edited by: VindiFan#1 & Juicetin
A forest.
Silence.
A wild hare suddenly jumped into sight, chewing something.
It was moving forward while paying attention to everything in its surrounding down to the tiniest blade of grass.
As it jumped again, a hand caught and softly picked it up mid-jump.
For some reason, being caught by this hand, the hare was trembling all over, unable to move a single muscle.
Zhang Ying Hao gave the hare to Tong Tong behind him.
“Is it cute?” he asked.
“It is!” Tong Tong happily hugged the hare and added: “Wild game always tastes much better; I want to grill it”
“Tch, you’re such an un-cute little girl” Zhang Ying Hao commented.
A cold voice came behind them: “Boss, Zhang Bei Jia shot my paper puppet dead”
Zhang Ying Hao turned around.
Three paper puppets were standing on the grassy ground.
One of them looked like Zhang Ying Hao.
On its forehead was a black hole that went through the other side ——–as if shot by a gun.
A fat man stood by the paper puppet and clapped his hands.
Zhang Ying Hao’s puppet was burnt to ash.
“He has 24 bodyguards, looks intimidating, but I feel more like he’s afraid of death” the fat man spoke.
“This… Marshal, what did he say?” Zhang Ying Hao asked.
“I controlled your paper puppet to persuade him to delay the war, but after reading the secret order, he only said one thing to the puppet”
Saying so, the fat man couldn’t help but let out a snicker.
“What did he say?” Zhang Ying Hao asked.
“What shit are you supposed to be?” the fat man answered.
Zhang Ying Hao scratched his head.
The hitmen standing around all smiled.
It’s been so many years since they saw the boss being humiliated like that, giving them a tiny wave of inexplicable pleasure in their hearts.
Zhang Ying Hao thought for a bit, then turned on his Holo-Brain: “Impartial Goddess, can you make me a genetic serum for changing my appearance?”
[There’s not enough time, the Empire’s Mech Vanguard troops will reach the border in 19 minutes and the war will start] Impartial Goddess answered.
“That quickly?”
Zhang Ying Hao looked at his watch and sighed: “The traditional method it is then”
“Tong Tong”
“Yes?”
“Bring me that guy’s face”
Before Tong Tong could answer, the fat man whispered to her: “Your paper puppet is being locked in his room”
Tong Tong shouted: “This god damn pervert!”
“It’s not me, it’s the Marshal” the fat man quickly explained himself.
“Boss, can I kill that Marshal?” Tong Tong asked.
“Do as you like, but killing him isn’t part of the job so you won’t get any extra pay” Zhang Ying Hao instantly replied.
“Then forget it” Tong Tong’s anger deflated like a balloon and answered, “I’ll just leave him with an unforgettable trauma”
“There’s no time, so I’ll give you 7 minutes” Zhang Ying Hao said.
“Yes boss” Tong Tong answered.
She drew two sharp daggers, held her long ponytail with her mouth, lowered her stance and jumped into the air.
The very next moment, she turned into a crow and flew towards the military camp.
“Tong Tong is still a bit young, someone go and cover her” Zhang Ying Hao ordered.
Two more figures disappeared.
Zhang Ying Hao continued: “Fatty, you’re up next”
The fat man frowned and complained: “I used to be able to last a few rounds against the old man, but now it’s a bit hard”
“Why?”
“You know, sir Martial Saint recently learnt a mysterious training technique and got a huge leap in strength, I’m afraid I’ll get absolutely wrecked”
When Zhang Ying Hao’s gaze scanned around, all the black figures all avoided it and avert their gazes.
He asked; “It’s just buying a bit of time and you even get to spar with the Martial Saint. No one is willing to sign up for such a good opportunity?”
No one answered him.
The fat man muttered: “A hitman’s life is still a life boss…”
…
The border.
Snow was starting to cover the ground.
On a mountainside, a torrent of black metal tread on the snow, moving as quick as lightning.
The Empire’s Mech Vanguard troops are the elite of the military, the best of the best.
After passing through this mountain, when they make it to the bottom, they will have passed the Confederate border.
The march was both quick and efficient.
The troops were moving without saying a word, each of them concentrating 120% on controlling their respective machines.
There wasn’t even a single sound in the military radio frequency.
Because the Marshal Zhang Bei Jia was currently leading the squad.
He was sortieing together with the Mech Vanguard.
He said he wanted to come personally, and so he did.
An extremely practical person.
His mood didn’t seem to be too good today, so no one wanted to say anything lest they incur his wrath.
According to the rumors, he was receiving the Empress’ ambassadors today.
Behind closed doors, they broke into an intense argument and verbally fought, which resulted in the ambassadors becoming angry and wanted to leave.
The Marshal captured three of them, and killed another on the spot.
Iron Shroud noticed this little exchange.
As the highest order of military AI in the Fuxi Empire, it ignored the Marshal and issued an order to the entire Mech Vanguard.
They were ordered to continue their advance without stopping unless ordered by Iron Shroud, otherwise they’re charged with treason.
It directly became the supreme commander of this entire operation.
His command usurped by an AI, the Marshal’s temper is as clear as day to anyone.
From the looks of it, he’s already at the verge of erupting.
The Marshal’s close aides didn’t say a word about these matters.
They hope that this tells everyone that the Marshal has determined himself to follow His Majesty’s footsteps.
On the other side.
In front on the mountain.
The Confederate’s frontline Defensive army has gathered.
Being a vanguard army that gathered on short notice, they were at a number and power disadvantage.
There could be only one result if such an army clash with the Empire’s main army, total defeat.
But with the appearance of a certain man, the entire situation was different.
The troops sat in their Mechs, occasionally redirecting their 3D projection to a certain angle and silently observed that man.
He was the idol of respect for every military person.
A middle-aged man.
Thick brows, sharp eyes, tanned skin, standing as straight as a spear.
Dark green military uniform, black military boots, an insignia of a sword and shield on his shoulder ——-the sword and shield represents the rank of General.
He silently sat on the shoulder of a 5-meter-tall Mech armor, lighting a cigarette as he peered his eyes at the top of the mountain range just outside their borders.
According to known intelligence, the Empire’s 477th Mech riders will be the first to arrive .
Once this 8000-men squad of Assault Mechs appear on this side of the mountain, the war between the two countries will officially erupt.
Zhang Zong Yang silently sighed.
The Confederate has experienced peace for too long, their army is dull.
On the Fuxi Empire side, as part of the Emperor’s preparations for war, they have consistently maintained their battle drills, thus being much stronger than the Confederate.
Everything rests on my shoulders now I guess.
Hopefully, before I am thoroughly drained, I’ll be able to stall them long enough and buy enough time for the Confederate to prepare.
While he was thinking, a black spot appeared on top of the mountain range.
Zhang Zong Yang’s pupil’s contracts.
Black is the Fuxi Empire’s Military Assault Mech most common colored paint.
As this black spot appeared, the next one followed after it.
Countless black spots showed up one by one.
The Assault Mech army quickly filled the entire mountain top, roaring their engines.
Over thousands of Assault Mechs were heading towards the border into the Confederate.
The Martial Saint threw his cigarette down, stood up and shouted: “Prepare for battle, for the Freedom Confederate!”
“For the Freedom Confederate!” the troops roared.
Their engines roared, ready to attack at a moment’s notice.
When the Martial Saint was about to head first into battle, a strange scene appeared at the mountainside.
A black Mech was made way for by the rest of them as it beautifully flew in front of the army.
The black Mech opened to reveal a black uniformed military man inside who jumped out and landed on the Mech’s shoulder.
The military man shouted loudly: “The Fuxi Empire’s Field Marshal Zhang Bei Jia challenges the Confederate’s Martial Saint to a life-or-death duel!”
His booming voice echoed and shook the entire battlefield.
At such a crucial moment, no one expected such a thing to happen.
The Confederate’s military that was waiting for battle were stunned.
The thousands of Mechs on the mountainside also stopped their advance.
The armies of the two countries were stopped in their tracks at this time.
It’s very rare for high-ranking Generals of armies between two countries to attempt a life-or-death duel.
Because once that happens, the two Generals will be representing not just themselves, but their entire country.
As a military man, there is no backing down from such a challenge, you either do everything you can to kill your opponent, or die trying.
This is a battle between Generals who stake their own lives, their victory represents the victory of their nations.
According to the rules of the battlefield, no one can interfere between this top-level battle.
Iron Shroud stayed silent, as does Impartial Goddess.
There have been countless precedents of such duels on the battlefield in the history of mankind’s wars.
And in reality, each time such a duel took place, its results would always greatly affect the flow of the war.
Iron Shroud and Impartial Goddess controlled their respective armies while remaining vigilant of the battle.
Zhang Zong Yang squinted his eyes observing his opponent.
It’s been quite a few years since he’s met such a brave enemy.
“What do you want to duel with?” Zhang Zong Yang asked.
“Mech battle” Zhang Bei Jia replied.
“Very well, as you wish”
Zhang Zong Yang went into his Mech.
Zhang Bei Jia also returned to his cockpit and closed it.
A chant began to rang out on both sides of the battle field.
“Martial Saint!” “Martial Saint!” “Martial Saint!”
“Marshal!” “Marshal!” “Marshal!”
The two armies unified voices reverberated throughout the air.
The black Mech was the first to move.
It dashed forward down the mountainside.
While running, it started to dismantle its own firearms.
Rotating high-explosive machine guns, high-frequency molecular cutter, long-range shock bombs, small laser barrels, intensive fire-control armor-piercing shells…
These firearms made loud noises as they rolled downhill.
After dismantling all its excess weight, the Mech’s speed increased by three-fold.
The Mech’s speed was still increasing nonstop.
As its engines roared, the black Mech dashed in a straight line for the Martial Saint.
“How interesting”
Seeing its actions, Zhang Zong Yang understood.
Pure hand-to-hand Mech combat?
He didn’t think too much of it and quickly made his decision.
His green military-type Assault Mech shook intensely as it discarded all its weapons.
—–boom!
Its engines roared at a rate never heard before as it also dashed straight for the foot of the mountain.
The two Mechs, one black and one green, quickly closed their distance.
