Chapter 85: The Return of Old Gao the Second

As expected, the icon for the Terror Robot appeared on the right side of the page.

Gao Ning was pleasantly surprised. The golden finger was indeed powerful; just moments ago, he had been worrying that the combat strength of the infantry units might be somewhat inadequate. In this world, even armies could barely repel monsters only after being equipped with exoskeleton armor. If more American soldiers showed up this time, he would probably need to cooperate with the military to stand a fighting chance.

But the appearance of the Terror Robot solved all his problems. Created to counter heavy armored weapons like tanks, it possessed an unparalleled talent for killing. Its efficiency was second only to police dogs, yet it never needed a second strike—it always killed with one blow.

Moreover, being a robot, it was ultimately stronger than flesh and blood. It would be even more advantageous against alien monsters.

Shaking his head, Gao Ning decided to put other matters aside for now and focus on summoning Old Gao II. After getting off at the terminal, Gao Ning rifled through all his pockets and finally found a soldier’s ID card. Glancing at the amount displayed in the Red Alert interface, he turned and entered the nearest bank.

Fifteen minutes later, Gao Ning left with a thick wad of euros and took a taxi straight to the center of Paris.

The barracks were located in Versailles, only fifteen kilometers from Paris. Unlike the solemn and tense atmosphere at the front lines, Paris still retained an air of revelry. Though there weren’t many pedestrians on the streets, all the shops lining the avenue were open.

Gao Ning changed into a new outfit at a central mall and finally checked into a business suite at a nearby luxury hotel. This time, he didn’t plan to regroup with his companions. The mission was a leisure one for Liang Bing; she only needed to take care of herself.

He wondered whether her specialty—killing her husband to offer him to the heavens—would continue in this world.

As for Zhou the Half-Immortal, he was a master at seeking fortune and avoiding misfortune. He had thrived even in times of war; this level of tension was nothing to him.

Dong Hua Wen was a newcomer, but the kid was sharp. In this tense atmosphere, he might even find a way to shine.

After a refreshing bath and a good meal, Gao Ning used a hundred-euro bill to have the floor manager bring him the war reports from the past three months, including major European newspapers and analytical essays by renowned experts.

He devoted himself to studying in his room.

From day to night, ten hours slipped by. As the time limit for summoning approached, Gao Ning set aside his materials, closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose. He casually set the arrival point in his own room.

The familiar roar of planes split the air; three parachutes blossomed and landed on the rooftop. The Terror Robots concealed themselves automatically. Old Gao II, cigarette dangling from his lips, swaggered over and kicked open the rooftop door before striding inside.

The floor attendant, startled by the noise, peeked out to investigate but saw nothing unusual and returned, puzzled.

Little did he know that Old Gao II had sauntered right under his nose.

With Old Gao II summoned, Gao Ning felt reassured. Integrating the information he had just read, he now had a thorough understanding of the alien monsters.

According to the reports, the monsters had appeared over five years ago. Their first emergence was in New York, where they rampaged without the slightest hesitation. The American military had never backed down from aliens and immediately launched a fierce assault. But on the level of individual combat, humans were always crushed. Whenever large forces mobilized, the aliens would vanish as if they foresaw it. If the military showed the slightest negligence—during operations for honor or dignity—the aliens would suddenly reappear and mercilessly attack small units.

America was tormented by this guerilla warfare conducted with prophetic cunning. The most powerful weapons were useless, for no one could locate the monsters’ lairs. Every time they uncovered a clue, the monsters would swiftly attack.

For reasons unknown, their numbers kept increasing, as if they were using Earth’s resources to multiply rapidly. By destruction and slaughter, they seized the western coast of America and parts of South Asia. India suffered heavy losses as well.

Though world leaders took the situation seriously, at first, it wasn’t treated as a matter of survival. That changed abruptly three months ago.

The monsters began attacking with increasing frequency, targeting secret military installations. Ammunition depots, military bases, missiles, fighter jets—even aircraft carriers—were destroyed by the monsters.

The highest achievements of human technology had barely shown their might before being mostly wiped out by the monsters. It was as if a premeditated plan was driving humanity onto the battlefield, forcing direct confrontation. The monsters only accepted open combat; if they detected any covert operations, they would vanish immediately, and before their next appearance, they would prioritize destroying high-end weaponry.

Governments were helpless. To resist the invasion, they were forced to deploy exoskeleton armor. After more than five years of war, humanity was retreating step by step, losing vast tracts of land. Now, the monsters had set their sights on Paris.

Society was steeped in despair. Yet, unexpectedly, the appearance of exoskeleton armor had allowed Versailles to be held—a rare victory that was a shot in the arm for the population. The entire society erupted in excitement. Military reinforcements from several countries converged on Versailles, preparing to launch a counteroffensive to reclaim Paris.

The next battle was set for tomorrow.

The lock clicked softly, and Old Gao II walked in. Cigarette still between his lips, he greeted lazily, “Boss, we meet again!”

Gao Ning nodded. “Looks like you still have your memories from last time. How’s the Elysium Space?”

“Terrible! Wars are erupting everywhere!” Old Gao II exhaled a plume of smoke. “Overpopulation, Earth’s resources were already stretched thin. With the disappearance of Elysium Space, vast swathes of production lines on Earth lost their authorization codes and shut down! Without food sources, how could people endure? Now even the center of New York is in chaos, just like an African battlefield!”

Gao Ning shook his head. “No surprise there, but it doesn’t concern us much. Let them fight! How’s the recycling plant?”

“It’s shut down! The paratroopers have taken over the villa, making it a natural fortress. The chaos hasn’t reached there yet, but it’s only a matter of time!” Old Gao II leaned back, feet propped on the coffee table. “The government officials on the ground have confirmed Elysium Space’s disappearance and discovered bodies drifting in orbit. They discussed it for a while but found no answers. The second Elysium Space project has been scrapped. They’re planning to build an emigrant spacecraft and move the remaining elite of Earth to a newly discovered Earth-like planet a few hundred light-years away!”