Planet IC2-P4S37

"Retreat, everyone!" Henry's voice boomed with urgency as he witnessed the hundreds of billions of Entomons hurtling towards them at an alarming speed.

"Retreat! Retreat!" The entire battlefield plunged into chaos as Henry's command echoed through the tumult. Everyone, including Li Wei, who was locked in combat with the Protector Entomons, began to pull back. Soon, a few Atom suits landed next to Henry as they retreated.

"Lieutenant General Henry! Are we truly retreating?" inquired one of the commanders.

"427 billion," Henry muttered in response, conveying the staggering magnitude of the approaching threat.

Upon hearing the numbers, Li Wei and the elite soldiers shivered involuntarily.

"The ones we have fought are mostly common swarms. Now, I can detect many Entomons who are far stronger than the Stag King, especially the one who is leading them. If my guess is correct, it must be the queen," Henry remarked, his tone grave and analytical.

"Our only hope is to defend from the temporary camp," Henry declared, his voice resolute, as he began issuing instructions.

"Create a defensive perimeter around planet IC2-P4S37 (Island Cluster 2-Planet 4 Star 37), and inform the higher-ups. I think we might not last 2 days."

Seeing the humans retreating, The Stag King wants to chase after them, but he cannot act impulsively in front of the Queen. He was nothing but another pawn for the Queen, and he was expendable.

Humans were a rare and valuable commodity for the Entomons. The Entomons' plan was to capture and cultivate them as a food source, much like many other species under their dominion. They needed to feed vast numbers of Entomons, and humans were the most suitable among them. They were resourceful and capable of self-sufficiency, unlike other species. Humans could adapt to various environments without needing caretakers, while others required assistance. The Entomons could leave millions of humans on different planets with their tools, and they would thrive and repopulate the planets within a few centuries, which was ideal for their purposes.

Scout Entomons were dispatched to keep an eye on the humans, following them from a safe distance.

The temporary camp wasn't far from the battlefield, located just a few light-hours away. (For context, Earth to Mars is approximately 3.11 light minutes apart.)

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Planet IC2-P4S37.

Humans were fortifying defenses around the planet. Despite the seemingly hopeless situation, they refused to surrender without a fight. Energy resources were almost depleted, and ammunition was scarce. They relied solely on their battlesuits and battleships.

Uncertainty loomed over their survival. Multiple distress messages were sent out, their only hope resting on timely reinforcements. Otherwise, they faced dire consequences.

"Deploy all minefields. Transfer all energy cells from the Motherships to the Warship, and evacuate the Motherships. We will activate their self-destruction mode as a weapon and cloak them. Bring down all heavy artillery," Henry ordered, issuing clear instructions.

"Form up, all combat soldiers!" Henry's voice resounded across the camp, prompting the soldiers to assemble into their combat formations.

As the non-combat soldiers diligently carried out their assigned tasks, the combat soldiers swiftly organized themselves into formations, readying for the impending battle.

Both invisible explosive air mines and land mines were deployed hastily, yet the tasks couldn't be executed flawlessly due to the limited time available.

A massive cluster of Entomons emerged from the dark abyss, creating ominous dark clouds in the vicinity of the planet.

The Stag Queen and her subordinates emerged from the clusters, their imposing figures casting a shadow over the planet. Towering at 63 meters tall, the Stag Queen possessed a more humanoid appearance compared to other Noble Entomons. Her metallic shell shimmered with light red hues and a black underside, and her body was noticeably smoother compared to her counterparts.

She stood proudly alongside her Stag Champion Entomons, towering at around 60 meters tall. They represented a higher class of Noble Entomons and were regarded as the strongest of their breeds.

Observing the humans busy preparing their defenses, she turned her attention back to the Stag King, who appeared to be in a pitiful state.

"BAM..."

The force of the impact sent the Stag King hurtling across space, crashing against one of the Leviathans. While the Leviathan remained unfazed by the collision, the Stag King bore the brunt of the impact. His shells showed signs of severe damage, nearly cracking under the immense force.

"Blargh..."

The Stag King regurgitated a repulsive mixture of half-digested food and blood, his body wracked with tremors as he rose slowly. It was unclear whether his shivering was due to his injuries or the looming presence of the Stag Queen.

After the brief spectacle concluded, she signaled to one of her subordinates.

"Bzzz…"

One of her subordinates took down the order and led tens of billions of Entomons, charging straight toward the planet. They started descending like a tsunami, ready to devour every living creature on the planet.

"Buzz…"

The Entomons descended like rain from the dark clouds, but it wasn't rain; it was a horde of gigantic bugs, far more powerful than any living creatures they had ever faced.

"OMG!!!" The situation felt like doomsday for the humans.

"SCREECH…."

The Entomons screeched with madness as they descended, but suddenly, a loud explosion reverberated through the sky.

"BOOM…"

The explosion tore a large group of Entomons into pieces, and as more Entomons descended, multiple explosions followed suit.

Confused and disoriented, the Entomons caught in the midst of the explosions were unable to react coherently. Battered from all sides by the chaos of the blasts, they struggled to regain their bearings.

"Screech…"

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The battlefield echoed with the agonized screeches of injured Entomons, their bodies punctured by countless wounds inflicted by the explosions.

"FIRE!!!"

Henry's command resounded through the chaos as soldiers swiftly raised their weapons, unleashing a relentless barrage of gunfire and lasers into the sky. Caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, the Entomons scrambled to evade, but there was no escape from the deadly rain of projectiles. The onslaught tore through their bodies, reducing them to nothingness in a storm of destruction.

The overwhelming firepower unleashed by the humans proved devastating, annihilating the first wave of Entomons with ruthless efficiency.

The Stag Queen observed the chaos unfolding around the planet with keen interest, indifferent to the demise of her subordinates. For her, the initial assault served as a means to gauge the humans' capabilities and defenses, offering valuable insights into their strategies and weaponry.

This time, the Stag Queen dispatched tens of thousands of Bruiser Entomons. These formidable creatures curled their bodies into protective shells, resembling hot black meteors hurtling down from the sky.

"Boom, Boom Boom…"

The atmosphere reverberated with multiple explosions as the Bruiser Entomons crashed into the atmosphere, setting off the minefield. The blasts tore through the air, creating powerful shockwaves. However, the minefield bombs proved ineffective against the resilient Bruiser Entomons, merely displacing them a few miles away from their original position.

"Boom, Boom, Boom…"

They crashed onto the planet's surface, creating numerous small craters. Emerging from these craters were massive, 40-45 meter tall, thick, and scaly Entomons. These Bruiser Entomons possessed both tank-like resilience and formidable combat capabilities. Shaking off their momentary disorientation, they immediately charged into the frontline, ready to engage the human defenders.

Observing the advance of the Bruiser Entomons, Henry swiftly deployed the combat soldiers clad in Atom suits to intercept them.

"Bam…"

A clash between the titans ensued once more as the Atom-suited soldiers confronted the Bruiser Entomons head-on.

"Seems like the Stag Queen is very smart. She has 427 billion armies while we have only a few billion soldiers," Henry remarked, observing the overwhelming numbers of the enemy forces.

"They could have crushed us with the sheer amount of their numbers. But instead of blindly charging in, she chose to use her brain," Henry noted, acknowledging the strategic approach of the Stag Queen.

"Which is both good and bad news for us. The bad news is, they are smarter, and our surprise attacks won't work on her," Henry admitted, recognizing the challenges posed by the Stag Queen's intelligence.

"The good news is, she is more cautious, and that gives us more time for the backups to arrive. Let's play along with her while we wait for the rescue," Henry strategized, issuing his command to the troops.

"Li Wei! Bring a team and showcase your power. Give the Stag Queen a good show," Henry commanded. Understanding the Queen's curious nature and desire to learn more about humans, he knew Li Wei was the best candidate for the task, being one of the most skilled soldiers available.

Li Wei chose a group comprising Günter, Aat, Benjamin, and Owen, accompanied by thousands of elite warriors. These individuals were renowned for their exceptional combat prowess and resilience, making them ideal for frontline engagements.

They swiftly took flight and descended onto the battlefield, ready to confront the advancing Entomons.

"Bam…"

Li Wei unleashed a barrage of devastating attacks on the Bruiser Entomons before him. With the arrival of Li Wei's team, the momentum of the battle shifted dramatically in favor of the human forces.

Li Wei, and his Taurus Atom suit, charged through the battlefield with unstoppable force, wielding his giant battle-ax with precision and power. Despite the formidable defenses of the Bruiser Entomons, they were outmatched by Li Wei and his elite team. These Bruiser Entomons, although formidable, were not of noble lineage like their counterparts. Despite their enhanced defenses and vitality, they found themselves unable to withstand the onslaught of the human elites.

'Interesting,' pondered the Stag Queen as she observed the battlefield. Determined to test the humans further, she issued orders for another wave of Entomons to descend upon the planet. This time, the force comprised more than 50 billion creatures, led by one of her Stag Champions, accompanied by thousands of Warrior Noble Entomons.

Amidst the chaos of battle, Li Wei found himself engaged in combat against multiple adversaries. With swift movements, he evaded their attacks and struck back with his double-sided ax, aiming for vulnerable spots. The Bruiser Entomon howled in agony as its leg was pulverized by the force of his blow. Attempting to flee, it found its escape thwarted as Li Wei's ax came crashing down on its wing.

"SCREECH…"

He tried to crawl away but...

"Bam..."

Amidst the chaos of battle, Li Wei found himself engaged in combat against multiple adversaries. With swift movements, he evaded their attacks and struck back with his double-sided ax, aiming for vulnerable spots. The Bruiser Entomon howled in agony as its leg was pulverized by the force of his blow. Attempting to flee, it found its escape thwarted as Li Wei's ax came crashing down on its wing.

Not everyone was as successful as Li Wei in their attacks, and many soldiers found themselves overwhelmed before they could even strike a blow.

"Buzz…."

As Henry and his comrades gazed upwards, their hearts sank at the sight of even more Entomons descending from the darkened sky. The sheer number of them cast a shadow over the entire planet, signaling the overwhelming force they were about to face.

"FIRE!!!"

Responding to Henry's command, the soldiers aimed their weapons skyward and unleashed another torrent of bullets and lasers, saturating the atmosphere. The common Entomons plummeted to the ground like rain, pierced by the relentless onslaught of projectiles.

"Thud… plop ...plop...plop…"

Witnessing the decimation of his swarm, the Stag Champion was consumed by rage. This was his army, and they were being dispatched like mere insects.

"ROAR…"

With a thunderous roar, the Stag Champion launched himself towards the human encampment, accompanied by his loyal subordinates.

"Enemies incoming!" one of the captains shouted, alerting the others to the imminent threat.

"Boom… boom… boom…"

The Stag Champion and his subordinates crashed into the sea of human soldiers, their imposing presence causing chaos among the ranks.

"Bam…"

Hundreds of humans were killed, and thousands of cyborgs and Prugnator-Droids were destroyed in an instant. Henry and his elite warriors rushed in to stop the Stag Champion and his subordinates from wreaking further havoc.

"Bam…"

The Stag Champion, caught off guard, was struck by a swift kick to his back, nearly cracking his shells, and sending him crashing into the nearby mountain.

The Stag Champion, recovering from the impact, emerged from the rubble of the nearby mountain. As he locked eyes with Henry, a glint of surprise flickered across his face. This was the individual they had heard about, the one who had come dangerously close to ending the Stag King's life.

With a newfound sense of caution, the Stag Champion gathered himself, eyeing Henry with newfound respect and wariness.

As the stalemate continued on the battlefield, the Stag Queen's mind wandered to her aspirations. She yearned for greater power, to ascend beyond her current station as a mere affiliated queen under the Overlord Empress. Ambition burned within her, fueling dreams of one day becoming an Overlord Queen in her own right, free to shape her destiny as she saw fit.

However, for the moment, she remained patient, biding her time and seeking opportunities to further her strength and influence. As she watched the events unfold, a sense of boredom began to creep in, urging her to take action and tip the scales in her favor.

With a calculating gaze, the Stag Queen decided to test the humans further. She dispatched a squadron of Reaper Entomons, agile predators akin to tiger beetles, to join the fray. These creatures were swift and deadly, capable of striking with ferocious speed and precision.

As the Reaper Entomons descended upon the battlefield, their presence added a new layer of danger to the already chaotic conflict.

"Ziip... ziip... ziip…"

Like a flash of lightning, thousands of Reaper Entomons vanished into thin air. On the battlefield, everyone was busy fighting against the swarm of Entomons. Suddenly, they detected something on their radar. What they saw was an Entomon: thin, with a razor-sharp jaw. The problem with this Entomon was its incredible speed; they were all over the place.

"Reaper Entomons detected! I advise everyone to be cautious!" One of the commanders informed the troops. As soon as he finished his sentence, he saw a blurry image, and the Reaper Entomons had already snapped one of his subordinates in half right in front of him.

"Activate AT-gun!!!"

He shouted as a laser gun popped out from his shoulders and began shooting. The AT-guns were autonomous targeting guns designed to engage enemies when humans were incapable of reacting to their speed. With a weapon reaction speed of 10 milliseconds and 1 millisecond to reach its target, the sensory data locked on to the targeted enemy's position, allowing the gun to shoot out lasers with 100% accuracy.

But sadly, the AT-guns on their suits were ineffective against the Reaper Entomons. Designed for different threats and lacking intelligence on the Entomons, none of their suits were upgraded to effectively combat every species they encountered in the war.

The battlefield descended into chaos. Anxiety and restlessness spread among the soldiers, each fearing they could be the next target of the relentless Reaper Entomons.

"Snap… Snap… Snap…"

The eerie sound of snapping filled the battlefield, reminiscent of someone indulging in a macabre snack. The Reaper Entomons moved swiftly, claiming lives with grim efficiency.

Each snapping sound sent a shiver down everyone's spine, leaving their limbs numb with fear. It was as if they were trapped in a waking nightmare, unable to escape the relentless onslaught of the Reaper Entomons.

Inside his Atom suit, one soldier trembled with fear, his eyes darting back and forth, constantly checking the indicators. Each time he swiveled his head to face a potential threat, the Reaper Entomons had already vanished, leaving him in a perpetual state of anxiety. Suddenly, a blurry image appeared, hurtling towards him at an alarming speed. His heart raced as he struggled to align his weapon's sights with the rapidly approaching target.

 "Zap… zap… zap…"

The Reaper Entomons burst open, splattering gooey mucus and crimson blood all over his suit.

It was the newly developed special Prugnator-Droids equipped with AT-Guns. Aware of the Entomons' incredible speed, humans had designed and produced several batches of prototype Prugnator-Droids armed with AT-Guns.

"Zap... zap… zap…"

The Prugnator-Droids unleashed highly intense 20 Gigawatt green light lasers, bursting open the Reaper Entomons upon contact. With the assistance of the AT-Prugnator-Droids from the sidelines, the battlefield was stabilized once more.

The soldiers breathed a collective sigh of relief as the immediate threat was neutralized. However, the war persisted, and the humans fought on, determined to defend their line of defense against the relentless onslaught of the Entomons.

The elite soldiers, equipped with advanced suits, faced less difficulty against the Reaper Entomons. Their superior gear and heightened reaction speed allowed them to anticipate the enemy's movements and counter effectively. This gave them an edge in predicting the pattern of their adversaries and maintaining control of the battlefield.

Henry swiftly turned around and slashed his claw, cleaving the Reaper Entomon in half. Throughout the battlefield, elite soldiers replicated this action, swiftly dispatching the Reaper Entomons with precision strikes and swift maneuvers.

Even with their prowess, the elite soldiers couldn't pursue and eliminate all the Reaper Entomons. Additionally, the AT-Prugnator-Droids were deployed in limited numbers, unable to cover the entirety of the battlefield.

"Retreat to the camp!" Henry's voice echoed across the battlefield as he commanded the soldiers to withdraw.

Henry realized that continuing the battle would lead to defeat. The distraction caused by the Reaper Entomons made it difficult to effectively counter the Noble Entomons wreaking havoc elsewhere.

Li Wei was attracting all the attention of the Entomons, particularly the Reaper Entomons.

"This is not good!" Henry exclaimed, observing Li Wei drawing the attention of the Reaper Entomons. Ignoring the Stag Champion Entomon, he charged straight through the group of Entomons.

"Li Wei!!! Watch out!!!"

Henry shouted as he blasted through the hordes of Entomons, clearing a path towards Li Wei.

Li Wei remained vigilant of the Reaper Entomons while engaged in combat with the Noble Entomons, carefully tracking their movements and ensuring they didn't catch him off guard.

Li Wei suddenly lifts his Ax and...

"BAM…"

Suddenly, Li Wei sliced through thin air. To everyone's surprise, there was a Reaper Entomon cleaved into two pieces and twitching on the ground

A sudden warning blared from his suit. Li Wei swiftly turned around, swinging his ax and slicing through another Reaper Entomon. However, two more latched onto his arm and leg, attempting to snap his limbs. Despite their efforts, his suit proved tougher than their grasp. They clung to him tenaciously, causing damage to Li Wei's suit as they struggled to break his arm and leg. In response, he seized one of the Reaper Entomons gripping his arm and crushed its head. Yet, as he dealt with this one, three more pounced on him, pushing him to the ground.

Li Wei swiftly rolled on the ground, using his weight to crush the three Reaper Entomons that had jumped on him. With a powerful swing of his ax, he smashed the one entangled on his leg, freeing himself from their grasp.

Suddenly, the ground began to tremble, sending violent shocks throughout the battlefield, causing everyone to shake uncontrollably.

A colossal mouth erupted from the ground where Li Wei stood, swallowing him whole along with several other Entomons before diving back into the earth. However, before it vanished underground, a silver flash pierced through the colossus worm's body.