Apocalypse I Have One More Keyword Than Others
Chapter 570 - - Duge scattered the bait_1
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Zhu Qinqin and Ji Mo had watched the video too, but they were indifferent, eating and drinking as usual. Except for a slight twitch of expression when Xiang Jiaojiao killed someone, they remained impassive at other times.
When Duge was comforting Nalan Li, Zhu Qinqin and Ji Mo only gave him an extra glance, not convinced that he truly had a heart of compassion. They just thought this was Duge’s way of winning people over or an expression of his keyword.
This was mainly because Duge’s needs differed from those of other Alien Warriors.
Qiyuan Star and other planets had been enslaved by Pan-Universe Entertainment for two hundred years.
Two hundred years ago, they might have felt compassion for the natives.
But after two hundred years of constant hunger and isolation from civilization, many Alien Warriors who grew up eating synthetic food had their hearts grow as hard as stone.
To them, the Alien Battlefield was a hunting ground for resources, a gladiatorial arena of life and death.
The natives on the Alien Battlefield were NPCs for them to grow and “level up,” and it was hard for them to resonate with NPCs.
Even if they randomly got keywords like “gentleness” or “benevolence,” while they might appear friendly to the natives, their acts and words were just that—performances, without real emotion.
In times of danger, they would kill without hesitation.
Countless, bloody lessons from their predecessors taught them that sympathizing with the natives in Alien Battlefields leads to certain defeat.
The newcomers from Nine Dragon Star and Bell Star harbored hatred.
In theory, they could resonate with Green Star.
But in reality, in the eyes of Green Star’s people, they were still Alien Warriors; to the other Alien Warriors, they were enemies, and more importantly, enemies to be eliminated first.
Moreover, when viewed in terms of numbers, the people from Nine Dragon Star and Bell Star were in the minority.
Two against eight, or perhaps one versus nine, for although Bell Star and Nine Dragon Star shared a common fate, they were still strangers to one another and could not possibly trust each other.
This meant they had to be ruthless in their quest for growth and survival…
Even if there were clever individuals among the warriors from the two planets on their first Alien Battlefield, burdened with using keywords for the first time, how could their experience possibly compare to those Alien Warriors who had honed their skills in simulation fields?
Thus, it was nearly impossible to reconcile the conflicts between all parties.
…
Duge’s needs were different from all other Alien Warriors; he never gave up on breaking free from the control of Pan-Universe Entertainment.
Moreover, Duge had lived in the relatively peaceful Earth, and including his time in simulators and Alien Battlefields, he had only been crossing over for a few years, unable to get as cold-blooded and ruthless as the other Alien Warriors.
…
As Duge held Nalan Li, he reflected on his own mistakes this time.
First, he had overlooked the lethality of weapons from technological planets;
Second, his keyword for this Alien Battlefield was “low-profile,” and although many suspected that he was behind the National Defense Bureau, there was no concrete evidence. Without a conspicuous target like him stepping up to draw fire, and seeking to mediate, different factions vied to be the leader, and in life-or-death situations, they naturally wouldn’t hold back.
Third, the new rule enforced by Pan-Universe Entertainment—only taking the top three—put tremendous pressure on all Alien Warriors.
…
Duge’s consolation was effective, and Nalan Li’s emotions gradually calmed down. She struggled out of Duge’s embrace, her face flushed, and with some difficulty, she could not quite look at Duge, “What do you plan to do?”
“Kill,” Duge said, after a moment of silence.
Zhu Qinqin and Ji Mo both jolted at the same time. Knowing Duge’s style, they understood that when he spoke of killing, he truly meant it.
“Kill?” Nalan Li was stunned for a moment, then turned her gaze back to the video feed from New Goldflower City, “Xiang Jiaojiao and the others are also killing, but you’ve seen the outcome. New Goldflower City has completely turned into ruins, and with such a record, the National Defense Bureau doesn’t dare to disclose it…”
Indeed, they didn’t dare to disclose. After the tragic state of New Goldflower City was published on the War Network, the public there unanimously denounced the superheroes and Alien Warriors, berated the official inaction, and cursed the uselessness of the National Defense Bureau…
Some Alien Warriors might have been stirring the pot, but more of it was the public sentiment, akin to a rabbit mourning the death of a fox.
After all.
The powers exhibited by Alien Warriors like Xiang Jiaojiao and Xie Qing were too exaggerated.
No one wanted to be walking down the street and suddenly become a puppet of another person, then be chopped up into pieces;
Nobody wanted the Escort Ships, which were supposed to protect civilians, to carry out indiscriminate slaughters of the populace…
…
“If all superheroes are like this, we’d rather not have any at all.”
“The Federation shouldn’t put its fate in the hands of such butchers.”
“We’d rather fight the Hill people to the death than die senselessly like this.”
“Where are the genetic soldiers? Why aren’t they taking action?”
“So-called National Defense Bureau is a joke. Living in such times is our tragedy…”
“Green Star is on the brink of destruction. Join the Doomsday Church, and we will ensure you a peaceful end to life’s final days.”
“The National Defense Bureau is the culprit behind this series of disasters.”
…
Public outrage boiled over, and Luo Yan, even with the courage of ten men, wouldn’t dare admit that Xiang Jiaojiao and the others were sent by him.
At this time, and after being berated thoroughly by the President, he profoundly despised Lin Hong and Xu Wan.
Especially Lin Hong, without his flawed advice, they could have taken their time with the Alien Warriors on Green Star instead of plunging Green Star into an irreparable mess within mere days.
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