The Cloud Cup, and the Dragon-Slaying Youth Operation.
Tian Xiao sat quietly in his office, staring at the screen of his personal device. An email from the Cloud Group had just arrived, with the subject line marked as "Urgent - Cloud Group's New Operation." His gaze quickly focused on the contents of the message.
The email outlined the background of the operation, offering critical insights into the current expansion of Earth's resources.
For hundreds of years, major corporate groups from the Earth Alliance had embarked on reckless expansion, continually colonizing distant planets and planting human bases across the cosmos. From the Solar System, the Milky Way, Andromeda, and Pegasus to the recently ventured Orion Cluster, Earth had claimed an ever-growing number of resource-rich planets.
However, with this rapid expansion, groups like the Cloud Group began encountering troubling signs of an ancient and deadly presence—beasts, insectoid creatures, and life forms unlike anything they had ever encountered. These creatures, wearing energy metal shells and exhibiting formidable strength, signaled a new era of threat that Earth was unprepared for.
Tian Xiao's eyes widened as he absorbed the implications of the message. The revelation was a shock, but at the same time, it brought clarity to many of the mysteries that had plagued his mind.
The insectoid species hadn't been wiped out.
The Star Beasts had appeared!
It turned out that, for years, experts had been aware of the lurking dangers in the universe—particularly the resurgence of the insectoid species. The Cloud Group's "Dragon-Slaying Youth Operation" had been conceived as a direct response to these newfound threats.
The universe was far from a peaceful place, and the existence of intelligent alien species capable of challenging humanity's dominance was not just a possibility but a reality. Cloud Group, understanding this better than most, had launched a comprehensive recruitment program targeting graduates and dropouts from military academies across the Earth Alliance. Their goal was simple yet ambitious: to build a powerful military reserve that could be mobilized at a moment's notice in case of an emergency.
Cloud Group, a mega-corporation with a workforce numbering in the millions, had always been on the cutting edge of exploration and expansion, often operating on the front lines of human settlement in the vast unknown. As they ventured farther into uncharted space, they came face-to-face with the terrifying reality of alien life forms, and their leadership recognized the need for a stronger defense.
More than two decades ago, the group had already begun to lay the groundwork. They scoured military academies for young, promising recruits and, in parallel, identified employees within the company who showed natural military aptitude. However, the age limit for recruitment was strict—only individuals under the age of thirty were considered, as they were believed to have the fastest learning curves and required fewer resources to train.
The email contained no details on past missions or operations, but the promise was clear: participation in the "Dragon-Slaying Youth" initiative would offer a brutal and genuine combat experience. Those who survived could expect preferential treatment, with opportunities for advancement within the company. Exceptional performance in the operation would open doors to leadership roles and prestigious assignments.
Tian Xiao was drawn in by the promise of such an opportunity. But it was not just the chance to advance that caught his attention—it was the information Cloud Group had accumulated over the years.
In that moment, a revelation hit him like a wave. The leaders of the Earth Alliance had known about the existence of the Star Beasts for some time. They simply hadn't made this information public. The realization sent a surge of anger through him.
If they had been informed earlier, he and the Earth's military forces could have been better prepared for the oncoming threat, avoiding the disastrous losses they had suffered.
"What a bunch of useless bureaucrats! D*mn capitalists!" Tian Xiao muttered angrily, his fists clenching. His rage burned hot for a moment, but slowly, he forced himself to calm down.
The email concluded with a call for participants to register by the deadline: October 10th, 777 of the New Calendar.
Tian Xiao sat in silence for a long while, pondering his next move. The opportunity presented by Cloud Group's recruitment drive was not just a chance to rise through the ranks—it was a rare opening to gather critical intelligence about the insectoid species and the Star Beasts.
He knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Though the mission would be incredibly dangerous, the potential rewards outweighed the risks. The stakes were high, but Tian Xiao wasn't one to shy away from a challenge.
Without hesitation, he made his decision.
He would join the Dragon-Slaying Youth Operation.
No matter the dangers, no matter the unpredictable outcomes. He was not one to follow the safe path, especially when the chance to uncover the truth and gain firsthand experience in the battle against the unknown was at hand.
The Ongoing Mission
Six days passed, and the excavation operation continued. The security team rotated in shifts, maintaining a vigilant watch over the meteor crash site.
There were no further encounters with insectoid creatures, but the meteor only yielded a small fragment—nothing substantial. The largest meteor fragment had fallen deep into a pit, and its location remained unclear.
The excavation crew from the Flying Shadow Corporation, numbering three hundred, had been working around the clock in shifts, but their progress had been slow. They had only managed to dig around three hundred meters into the pit, barely a third of the planned depth, with no significant findings to report.
The security team was becoming increasingly weary, but they all understood that if the meteorite remained unaccounted for, the entire base would be exposed to the dangers of the insectoid threat. The situation was growing dire.
Two days later, Chen Wuling's team received new orders from their superior, Luo Fei. The focus would shift from the meteor pit to other pressing tasks.
Chen Wuling gathered her team for a briefing. "Luo Fei said that in five days, we'll begin our monthly transport escort mission. Starting tomorrow, we'll no longer be patrolling the meteor pit."
"Finally! A break from that dead zone," one of the team members exclaimed.
"That's right. I haven't had a drink in days!" another added.
Tian Xiao furrowed his brow, his mind working quickly. "According to the base regulations, every month we send a team to escort the logistics ships to the nearby transfer station for warp travel. The whole process takes about four to five days."
Chen Wuling nodded. "You've been studying hard, Tian Xiao! This transport mission usually takes around four days, and by the time we return, there should be some progress at the meteor pit. But the priority is clear—we need to secure the resources and deliver them back to headquarters. That's the main mission."
Tian Xiao understood the task. The planet's terrain wasn't suitable for large ships to dock, so small transport shuttles were needed to shuttle resources back and forth, which was always a cumbersome process.
Chen Wuling continued. "Each month, the mission is led by the squad leader personally, and this time, Luo Fei will be accompanied by Deputy Squad Leader Wu Hao to escort the logistics ships. Our job will be to coordinate with the ships in low Earth orbit and ensure the smooth delivery of the raw minerals to the transport ships."
Tian Xiao nodded. The mission was clear: ensure the safety of the transport operation while also securing resources for their own use.
Chen Wuling finalized the task assignments: "Zhu Xiaotian, you'll handle the ground logistics and security. Old Lu, you're in charge of the atmospheric region. Liu Xuesong and Qiao Dazhi will handle the final stretch, and the meteor belt area will be under Tian Xiao and me."
The team acknowledged their assignments without hesitation. Tian Xiao, despite being a newcomer, had already earned the trust of his peers, especially given that he was assigned to the most dangerous portion of the mission.