Chapter 60: A+A (VIII)

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Chapter 60: A+A (VIII)

Shang Ke had originally planned to use his leave to visit his Omega father, but after hearing about it, Jiva firmly told him not to come home. Reporters were camped outside, all trying to confirm his current physical condition and whether he was truly qualified to join the 45th Legion.

The matter should never have attracted this much attention. The Empire treated its heroes with considerable respect and courtesy. Even if Shang Ke truly could no longer serve in combat, he could still be assigned an easy post and enjoy generous benefits. In fact, this was precisely the outcome many higher-ups preferred. Turning Shang Ke into a tragic hero whose story could occasionally be used to boost morale seemed far more valuable than letting him run back onto the battlefield and get himself killed.

After seeing Filmore’s medical report, almost no one believed he still possessed the ability to fight. If he died on the battlefield without accomplishing anything, it would only tarnish his title of “Hero.” Sacrificing oneself for one’s country was certainly honorable, but one still had to consider one’s capabilities. If he insisted on forcing himself into battle despite knowing how badly his body had been damaged, people would inevitably remember him as someone who had overestimated himself.

For the Seaver family, Filmore retiring now would actually have been a good outcome. He might no longer be able to accumulate military achievements, but his honors alone could still raise the family’s prestige and benefit their businesses. Shang Ke, however, had chosen to remain in the military—a decision that displeased both the Empire’s upper ranks and the Seaver family.

Thus, both sides simply allowed the media reports and public criticism to run unchecked. Kenwyn went even further, publicly declaring that he had repeatedly tried and failed to dissuade his son, but since Filmore remained determined to serve the country, all he could do as a father was support him. He played heavily on public emotion without caring in the slightest how much pressure or trouble this would create for his son.

What should have ended as a satisfying heroic story continued attracting widespread attention because of relentless media hype. Public discussion gradually shifted away from praising the hero and toward questioning whether he deserved a place in the 45th Legion, whether he could still fight the Insectoids, and how he would perform once he returned to battle.

If Shang Ke performed poorly in future battles, the honors he had already accumulated would lose much of their luster. That meant he had no choice but to do better than everyone else. Otherwise, even if he died, people would merely sigh over him for a while. This was wartime, after all. Heroes emerged constantly, and Shang Ke was hardly the only person worth remembering.

By choosing to remain in the military, Shang Ke had essentially placed himself in a position where he could only move forward and never retreat, with practically no one supporting him. But he had no choice. His mission required him to become a Senior Colonel within ten years. If he left the military and could no longer accumulate military merit, failure was guaranteed. If the conditions were there, he had to push forward. If they weren’t, he would create them himself and push forward anyway.

After finishing his call with his Omega father, Shang Ke did not remain outside for long. He returned to the training camp and resumed his monotonous, grueling training life, almost completely cutting himself off from the outside world.

The good news was that after his previous spar, far fewer people came looking to provoke him. Combined with his relentless day-after-day training, he gradually earned everyone’s recognition. Under his influence, morale throughout the camp soared, and a whole group of hardened soldiers began training as though they had been injected with stimulants.

Two months later, an emergency erupted along the southeastern frontier, and Rhine immediately led the 45th Legion to the battlefield.

Aima was overrun with countless species of Insectoids possessing extraordinarily high reproductive rates. They could never truly be exterminated, and humanity had nearly been wiped out several times by massive Insectoid tides. Only as human civilization expanded and its technology advanced did they gradually gain enough strength to contend with them.

Even now, the Insectoids occupied roughly half the planet’s landmass. Not every species was aggressive, but there were no fewer than a hundred known dangerous varieties.

The Groundclinger beetles Shang Ke had encountered at Via City were not considered particularly dangerous. The enormous casualties there had mainly resulted from the Insect Sandstorm created by the electromagnetic insects, which cut off transportation and prevented reinforcements from reaching them.

The Insectoid forces attacking the southeastern frontier were primarily composed of three species: the overwhelmingly numerous Groundclinger beetles, Arrow Beetles capable of firing sharp spines, and enormous airborne Fortress Fliers.

By the time Rhine’s forces arrived, the Insectoid army had completely surrounded South Galo. The 45th Legion could only temporarily establish itself in East Galo and prepare a rescue operation.

Of the Empire’s major battlefronts, the southeastern frontier where Rhine and Shang Ke were stationed attracted the most attention. One was the youngest general in the Empire; the other was a newly celebrated hero returning to battle despite serious injuries. The entire nation was watching them.

Countless self-proclaimed prophets appeared online to analyze the war from every possible angle. Opinions varied, but most agreed on one point: with Rhine in command, victory was almost certain. What nearly everyone also predicted, however, was that Shang Ke would not participate in frontline combat.

Instead, Shang Ke not only fought on the front lines, but also achieved impressive results.

Drawing on his experience at Via City, Shang Ke and his teammates captured the Groundclinger Queen and fastened it securely to the back of a Fortress Flier. They even “kindly” fitted the Queen with protective armor. Then they concentrated their attacks on that particular Fortress Flier, forcing it to flee wildly through the battlefield and throwing the Groundclinger formation into chaos along with it.

The harassed Fortress Flier was furious: Why the hell are they only chasing me?!

The Groundclinger beetles trying to rescue their Queen were equally furious: You giant flying bastard, hurry up and let our Queen go, or don’t blame us for turning on you!

Fortress Flier: Fuck! Why would you even bring your Queen to a battlefield? So you can mate whenever the mood strikes? No wonder you idiots haven’t changed in thousands of years—you only increase your numbers, never your intelligence!

Groundclinger Beetles: You damn bird-bug! Think you’re special because you’re big? Think flying makes you impressive? Come down here if you’ve got the guts and we’ll see who kills whom!

……

…

The Insectoids descended into complete chaos, while the humans happily took full advantage of it.

Insectoids generally possessed low intelligence, which was one of the main reasons humanity could contend with their overwhelming numbers. Taking advantage of their internal confusion and backed by ample firepower, the human forces fought for several hours with almost no casualties.

This thoroughly wicked idea had, of course, come from Shang Ke. Rhine unreservedly credited him with the primary contribution. When Shang Ke returned from battle, Rhine even gave him a huge embrace in front of everyone and conveniently “baptized” him from head to toe with his pheromones.

However, eliminating the entire Insectoid force and relieving the siege of South Galo was still no easy task. They had weakened the Groundclinger beetles, but the Arrow Beetles and the remaining Fortress Fliers had lost none of their combat power.

Online discussions immediately shifted toward predicting how long it would take them to lift the siege. Some estimated at least three months, while more optimistic observers believed two would be enough.

Once again, Rhine shattered everyone’s expectations. Instead of continuing to attack from the outside, he personally led a force carrying supplies through a passage they forcibly opened in the Insectoid encirclement and entered South Galo directly. After reinforcing its defenses, he coordinated the two defensive zones and launched a pincer attack on the Insectoids.

One month later, the siege of South Galo had been completely lifted and the attacking Insectoid army wiped out. Human casualties numbered only around a thousand, making it an overwhelming victory.

Two months later, Rhine led the 45th Legion home in triumph to rest, reorganize, and tally military merits.

When the military network announced that Shang Ke had received a First-Class Merit, everyone was stunned. What exactly had he done to earn one? Only ten service members in the entire campaign had received First-Class Merits, yet Shang Ke—whose physical ability had supposedly declined drastically—was one of them?

In response to the public’s doubts, several combat recordings were released online. People were already shocked simply to see Shang Ke fighting on the very front line, but the combat techniques he displayed afterward truly opened their eyes.

Via City had been a war of attrition that relied primarily on stamina and willpower, leaving Shang Ke little opportunity to display refined combat techniques. This battle was different. With powerful support behind him, he could fight freely and to his full ability, allowing his combat skills to shine as one of the campaign’s highlights.

When everyone doubted him, he had resolutely chosen to return to the military. With his body permanently damaged, he used exceptional technique to compensate for what he lacked physically. Through his own ability, he silenced everyone who had questioned him.

As Imperial Marshal Kai Mingwei would later say, “Not every soldier can become strong, and not every strong person can become a hero.” Perseverance, endurance, and unwavering conviction were all indispensable.

If his first battle had made him a tragic hero who turned the tide in a hopeless situation, then his second sent his popularity soaring to an entirely new level.

The two battles secured Shang Ke the title of “Rookie King.” He became one of the most frequently discussed figures of the past six months and was even listed among the most desirable Alpha partners for young Betas and Omegas. His family, who had previously left him largely to fend for himself, suddenly became attentive again, sending greetings every day.

Seeking some peace and a chance to recover from his exhaustion, Shang Ke decided to rest properly for several days and recharge before the next war inevitably began.

He booked a room at the most luxurious hotel available. He had only just finished enjoying a comfortable aromatherapy bath when someone knocked on his door.

“Ryan?” Shang Ke looked surprised when he saw who it was.

Ryan’s eyes were soft as water. “Fil, there’s something I want to tell you.”

Shang Ke hesitated before letting him inside. “It’s already so late. It isn’t safe for you to be out alone. Let me change, and I’ll take you back—”

Halfway through the sentence, he suddenly sensed something unusual in the air. Shang Ke turned toward Ryan and stared in disbelief. This Omega came to my room in the middle of the night and went into heat right in front of me?!

“W-what are you doing?” Shang Ke asked stiffly.

Ryan gazed at him affectionately. “Fil, I want to be your Omega.”

Shang Ke: “…”

Because Omegas were rare and bore much of society’s reproductive responsibility, they had always received extensive protection. Yet they had their own helplessness as well. An Omega could hardly resist an Alpha’s demands, particularly when that Alpha belonged to the powerful nobility. Despite attracting many suitors, Omegas could not completely control their own futures. That was why many chose a partner they genuinely liked before being marked, hoping to avoid becoming pawns in struggles among the powerful.

Ryan had wavered between Zeka and Filmore for a long time. Only after this campaign ended and Filmore returned covered in glory did he finally make his decision and choose him as a partner. Compared with the fickle, flirtatious, difficult-to-control Zeka, the devoted and hardworking Filmore was clearly the safer choice.

Shang Ke could sympathize with an Omega’s circumstances, but that certainly did not mean he had to accept!

Omega pheromones flooded the room. Shang Ke’s body grew feverishly hot as desire surged through him. Looking at the alluring Ryan by the bed, Shang Ke rapidly backed himself into a corner. Unfortunately, the desire within him did not ease in the slightest. It only intensified.

Seeing Ryan approach with hazy eyes, Shang Ke reacted as though a terrifying monster were coming straight for him. Don’t come any closer! he screamed internally, then bolted toward the door, yanked it open—and ran headfirst into someone’s chest.

He looked up.

It was Rhine!

Why isn’t he at the victory banquet? What is he doing here? And why is he carrying a bottle of wine?

Shang Ke immediately stepped backward and tried to close the door without a second thought. Compared with Ryan, Rhine’s danger level was obviously much higher.

But Rhine had no intention of letting him shut the door. He kicked it open and strode inside. The instant he saw Ryan in heat, his expression darkened. His figure flashed forward, and he promptly knocked Ryan unconscious and shoved him into the wardrobe.

After dealing with Ryan, Rhine’s sharp gaze locked directly onto Shang Ke. Shang Ke had only just bathed and wore nothing but a loose bathrobe. A clean fragrance lingered around him, his pale skin faintly flushed from arousal, his eyes veiled in mist and his damp lips slightly parted.

Rhine took the sight as an invitation. Without another word, he pushed Shang Ke down onto the bed.

Under the stimulation of the Omega pheromones saturating the room, the instant their lips met, the tension between them ignited. They grappled and kissed like two wild beasts locked in a struggle.

Shang Ke still retained a thread of reason, but his mature body and the overwhelming desire coursing through it were becoming increasingly difficult to control.

No. No way!

Shang Ke repeatedly tried to break free, only for Rhine to overpower him each time.

“Rhine, you said…” Shang Ke gasped. “You said you would wait until I became stronger.”

“That was under the condition that you didn’t touch anyone else.” Rhine pinned Shang Ke’s arms above his head, his gaze fierce.

Compared with several months earlier, Shang Ke’s body had become stronger and more muscular, his physique well proportioned without a trace of excess weight. His legs were long and powerful, his body honed by relentless training.

As Rhine tried to press the advantage, Shang Ke suddenly locked his legs around his waist and twisted hard, reversing their positions and pinning Rhine beneath him. Before he could stabilize himself, the world spun again and Rhine promptly flipped him back underneath.

Rhine turned him over and held him firmly in place as his powerful pheromones surged around them.

“Mm…” Sweat covered Shang Ke as he released his own pheromones, desperately resisting Rhine’s invasion.

Fuck! One moment an Omega was offering himself to me, and the next I’m the one getting taken?!

As the pheromones of the two Alphas clashed, the Omega pheromones in the room grew even stronger, acting as a catalyst that further intensified their arousal.

Shang Ke’s consciousness gradually became muddled. His body desperately sought relief, yet Rhine continued holding him firmly under control.

When Rhine finally crossed the last boundary between them, Shang Ke knew he was finished.

In the end, he had failed to hold the line.

As the overwhelming tide of sensation swept over him, Shang Ke finally stopped resisting and was dragged with Rhine into a tumultuous entanglement…

#Please calculate the size of Ryan’s psychological trauma as he lies unconscious in the wardrobe.#

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