章 89: Chapter 89 Overconfidence
White—an endless, consuming white—stretched across the landscape, blanketing every inch of the horizon. The snow-covered earth blurred into a seamless, frozen expanse, swallowing color and life until it became indistinguishable from the sky.
In the distance, gray silhouettes of half-buried towns stood beneath thick layers of snow, their roofs and streets swathed in white, weighed down by relentless Siberian winters. Here in this industrial town on the edge of nowhere, white was more than the color of snow; it was a reminder of everything that had been worn down and forgotten.
This was a place where few ventured. Once a hub of development, the town had seen its brief moment of success before fading into obscurity.
So why would anyone come here?
Two figures stood atop a cliff that overlooked the desolate landscape, their breaths forming misty clouds in the frigid air. The taller of the two men, burly and bundled in a thick, military-issue coat, stared silently into the frozen expanse. His features were harsh, almost sculpted from the very ice and wind that battered the land.
"Sir, are you sure it's wise not to inform the United Nations?" The second man ventured, trying to sound respectful yet curious, his voice softening in the brittle air.
The superior officer, unfazed, turned his steely gaze forward. "Comrade Lovesky, questioning your superiors is an unwise habit." His tone was firm, unyielding.
"Oh, of course, sir. I meant no disrespect," replied the sergeant, quickly rubbing his hands for warmth, feeling a twinge of regret. "It's just... the soldiers are eager to be home for Christmas. And with only one target, sir, well, I thought they might get a bit homesick." He smiled, attempting to strike a tone of camaraderie.
He knew the man in front of him controlled all the military forces in Russia, and even the president showed him respect.
The man didn't respond to the sergeant's words, instead keeping his eyes on the snowy view. Even without a telescope, his small eyes seemed to see far ahead, like an eagle hunting its prey.
"Lovesky, you don't understand. You don't get how important something that goes beyond normal is in today's world."
"You mean that video?" the sergeant asked carefully.
The man didn't answer, but his silence said enough. It seemed Orion's appearance was no secret among world leaders.
"That kind of power is in others' hands now, but we have a chance. To bring back the glory from years ago, we can't be slow."
Suddenly, a loud noise came from behind them. The snow and wind tried to hide it, but the sound was still there—machines moving through the snow.
Mechanical structures appeared, blending with the snow thanks to special technology. These weren't just any machines. They were Russia's best.
"The new Hells H-3 is our country's most advanced armored robot. One of these machines can take down an entire army camp, and three can control a small town," the man said confidently. To capture the powerful entity before anyone else, he had brought the strongest forces under his command.
The town below was already like a ghost town.
In the snowy landscape, a ten-meter-tall creature that looked like something from a dream stood among the ruins. It was called a Parvati. Its forelimbs crushed houses like toys, and the townspeople had either turned into pale creatures or turned into zombies.
Behind it, a massive horde of Honkai beasts flooded the sky and stretched across the land, darkening the horizon like a living storm.
Towering knights in dark armor rode colossal horses, their hooves thundering as they advanced, each brandishing massive spears that glinted with an unnatural sheen.
Among them, strange, siege-engine beasts resembling massive, twisted ballistae creaked and snapped, their unnatural limbs ready to unleash chaos. But even these imposing figures paled next to the shadows forming behind them—greater, darker creatures lurking in the distance.
Suddenly, a piercing cold sliced through the air, and the earth shivered beneath an unearthly frost.
An immense figure emerged from the icy fog. It moved with ancient power, its monstrous limbs crunching the frozen ground, towering horns curving skyward, and its size dwarfing even the oldest dinosaurs.
Its skin, formed entirely of hardened ice, shimmered under the pale light, a creature of winter's wrath itself. Snow spun and swirled around it as if drawn by its very presence.
This monster would be called Pavanti, the Goddess of the Snow, a name that would one day strike terror into the hearts of humankind.
The battle had begun, and though the general approached with confidence, he had yet to realize just how outmatched he truly was.
---
Elsewhere, at the MOTH base, troops were getting ready as helicopters whirred overhead.
"Orion, are you sure you want to go?" Ato shouted over the loud noise of the helicopter.
Orion was already in his black combat uniform, looking more determined than the soldiers next to him, even though he held no weapon.
"Soldiers don't hide," Orion answered calmly. He knew that MOTH wanted to keep him safe until they better understood his powers. To them, Orion Astra was far too valuable to lose in battle. His abilities could be worth more than thousands of soldiers.
But Orion didn't see it that way. Fighting the enemy was something he couldn't avoid. If he wanted to grow stronger and find the mastermind behind everything, he had to face danger head-on.
After all, running away wasn't his style.
It's not being weak that's scary, but being afraid to fight.
Soldiers are often called "brave" for a reason.
Ato's face softened. He could tell that Orion's words were sincere. This wasn't the same crazyness he'd seen in videos before. Ato wasn't sure which version of Orion was real.
Orion gave Ato a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You've got people to look after. Don't worry about me," he said, his voice calm but resolute.
Ato glanced back toward the MOTH base, where his wife, Blanca, worked alongside Mobius as an assistant in the First Research Institute.
She was pregnant, and Mobius had always chided Ato for spending too much time away from Blanca.
Ato stayed quiet as he watched Orion board the transport plane with the other soldiers.
"No warriors hide," Ato whispered to himself, now understanding Orion better and even admiring him.
"All I can do is wish him luck."
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