Chapter 18: The Underhive’s civilians
Two Days Later
Qin Mo worked tirelessly.
His hands hovered above the workbench, assembling the sixth power armor suit with inhuman precision.
Metal plates levitated into place, servos and actuators fused seamlessly, while the armor's core hummed with contained energy.
At the same time, a spoon drifted from a ration pack to his mouth, guided by telekinesis.
He chewed thoughtfully.
For two days, he had avoided this synthetic food, assuming it was something… unnatural.
He had been wrong.
It was actually good.
And as he ate, he understood exactly how it had been produced.
All biological remnants recovered from the battlefield—whether fallen enemies, or the mutant horrors lurking in the Underhive—were collected.
Then, the logistics drones, operating under the AI Core's directive, purified the remains, extracting nutritional value and biomass.
The resulting material was tasteless at first.
But the drones had learned.
Using safe chemical agents, they replicated flavor compounds, ensuring a palatable, nutritious, and completely harmless food source.
....
A calm, mechanical voice filled Qin Mo's comms.
["Based on collected data from three logistics units, this food maintains a 100% approval rating among troops.
Over 70% report increased strength and accelerated wound recovery post-consumption.
These findings have been integrated into the data core for further optimization of the food supply chain."]
It was a routine report.
The AI functioned autonomously, but Qin Mo still monitored its actions.
He swallowed another bite.
"What about the intelligence network?"
["All completed reconnaissance drones have been deployed.
We have confirmed the existence of 42 remaining defensive positions.
18 are under heavy attack.3 are on the verge of collapse.
Including the defenders at this fortress, total surviving Imperial personnel within the Underhive number 357,231.
If reinforcements are required, I will calculate the optimal deployment strategy."]
Qin Mo paused.
Three hundred and fifty-seven thousand?
That number was impossible.
According to Klein's previous reports, before the situation had deteriorated, the Lord Marshal had only allocated 50,000 men to establish a defensive line.
So where did the extra 300,000 people come from?
["There is a civilian settlement within the Underhive—designated 'Kato.']
The AI answered before he could ask.
Qin Mo nodded in realization.
"That explains it."
He placed his helmet on, the visor sealing with a pressurized hiss.
"Calculate the best reinforcement plan."
His HUD flickered to life, displaying a detailed 3D map.
The remaining defensive positions were color-coded:
Green – Relatively stable.Orange – Under siege but holding.Red – Critically endangered, low manpower.
A route was plotted through the red zones.
Following this path would allow the fastest possible reinforcements to each besieged stronghold.
["Two of the three high-risk positions can be stabilized using fire support drones.
However, the settlement of Kato—1,000 kilometers west—requires your direct intervention.
I request authorization to deploy fire support drones."]
"Granted."
Qin Mo nodded.
Immediately, four fire support drones lifted off from the 47th Regiment's fortress, thrusters roaring as they accelerated toward the besieged Imperial positions.
"I should move out as well."
Qin Mo stood, glancing at the newly completed sixth power armor suit.
He felt… hollow.
This wasn't his masterpiece.
Over the past weeks, he had realized something.
He wasn't developing technology out of necessity.
He loved creating.
The thrill of solving complex engineering problems, of crafting the impossible, gave him satisfaction.
But now?
He was too efficient.
What took other scientists decades, he completed in days.
The challenge was gone.
He hungered for the next great invention.
And in that hunger, he understood—
The power he wielded came from a Star God obsessed with creation.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
There was work to do.
Qin Mo opened a voxs channel.
"Grey—fetch Tor. His armor is ready."
"Are we heading out?"
"Of course."
Qin Mo's visor glowed.
"We're moving to reinforce the settlement of Kato."
....
Kato: The Underhive Settlement
Kato wasn't a makeshift refuge.
It was a functioning micro-city within the depths of the Underhive.
Bounty hunters scavenged ancient relics from forgotten ruins.Gangs ran illicit manufacturing operations, producing weapons and contraband.Civilians labored, trading work for food and protection.
Qin Mo had heard of Kato before.
He had assumed it was already lost.
But when he arrived—
He found 2,000 Planetary Defense Force (PDF) soldiers holding the main highway.
"It's him!"
The PDF soldiers saw his Aquila staff.
Morale surged.
"Hold the line."** Qin Mo ordered.**
He turned to a nearby trench officer.
"I was informed you have 2,000 troops. But you're all concentrated here.
Who's fighting in the rest of the city?"
The officer opened his mouth to answer—
"VROOM∼!"
An engine roared behind them.
A vehicle rumbled forward, stopping beside Qin Mo.
It was a utility truck, covered with a tarp.
The driver—**a civilian—**jumped out, followed by his wife and three children.
Qin Mo's visor glowed ominously.
"This is a warzone."
His voice was flat.
"What are you doing here?"
The man snorted, glancing at the PDF troops with disdain.
"Helping these useless bastards."
He climbed onto the truck bed.
Ripped off the tarp.
Underneath?
A quad-barreled Heavy Stubber.
His wife and children rushed to reload the ammunition belts.
Within seconds, the man took aim.
And opened fire.
His family wasn't idle.
His wife and eldest son retrieved lasrifles, checking scopes before engaging targets.
Even the smallest child—barely taller than her weapon—executed precise headshots like a seasoned sniper.
....
The officer sighed.
"As you can see… most of the fighting in the city is handled by the civilians."
Qin Mo exhaled.
So this was why Kato had endured.
In the Underhive, those too weak to fight…
Had already been culled by their harsh reality.
"Truly, the Underhive breeds the toughest people."
He muttered.
And then, he joined the battle.