Chapter 582: 568 My name is Lanzhou
When the first Super Fusion Fusion Bomb exploded thousands of kilometers above the Sumer Star, Xu Shisan couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
Tens of thousands of square kilometers of land were turned into a glass plain by the immense energy of the Super Fusion Fusion Bomb, and above the glass plain, nothing else existed anymore.
The once proud Kuishan was completely panicked after witnessing the Star Alliance Fleet's planetary bombardment.
"Commander Lai, this is not what we had agreed upon. We are already citizens of the Star Alliance, we serve the Chancellor! By doing this, our people will die in greater numbers than those of the Champion Mercenary Corps!"
But Kuishan's shouts received no responses whatsoever.
For the Star Alliance, these desperados from the Wilds of the Galaxy were no different from rats. A simple stomp was sufficient; explanations were unnecessary.
The second explosion occurred, Kuishan and his spaceship were obliterated in the dazzling burst of light, along with two Champion Mercenary Corps warships and a town of thousands of people.
Lai Zhicun could imagine Xu Lanzhou's face, this seemingly stern female general, who had a compassionate side. She was a woman tough on the outside but soft on the inside, a true Knight. And he, merely a power-seeking military officer who would stop at nothing for victory.
"No matter how victory is achieved, whether it comes through betrayal, or even begging, as long as it is victory, that is enough. Because only the victors have the right to tell their story, not the losers. The victors can adorn their stories in any way they like." Lai Zhicun murmured to himself, which was also his creed.
Xu Shisan wavered, even though she was more rational compared to Xu Lanzhou, but what supported her was everything she had built. And now, Lai Zhicun intended to completely destroy the mercenary group that defined her existence, which made her hesitate, fear, and even slow down her resistance against the fleet.
At that moment, You Mi'er suddenly yelled in the channel, "Commander, don't worry about us, this life was given to us by you, now it's our turn to give it back to you! Charge, kill these despicable people of the Star Alliance. The Champion Mercenary Corps can be killed, but we will never surrender!"
Xu Shisan watched the images before her: Shield Number was reeling from the impact of the bombings, and even You Mi'er's head was bleeding, but he was still desperately attacking the enemy, still trying to protect the Mercenary Corps' town. Even though the Planetary Bombardment Weapon falling from the sky could obliterate his efforts at any moment.
The voice of Ye Ge remained icily detached at that moment, but within the cold words, there was a rare trace of passion.
"Death is all but death, in this life, I do not wish to see you bow down to fate."
Xu Shisan was moved, she knew the feelings the two deputy commanders had for her. Although she had no romantic feelings for them, she was touched when they were willing to sacrifice everything for her, even their lives.
"Yes, my whole life, since I became Xu Shisan, wasn't it all about resisting fate? Whether it's Xiao Yu or Bai Zhongqi, whether it's Iridium Star or the Star Alliance, I am just me, I am not subordinate to anyone, I am proud because I am myself!"
A powerful force burst forth from Xu Shisan, this spirit wave of power directly transmitted to the Divine Mech. The Divine Mech, previously unable to advance due to constant bombardment from the 95th Army's warships, suddenly burst forth with a blinding light. A silhouette charged out from the light, relentlessly advancing with a decisive aura, fiercely attacking the enemy.
A ship was cut in two!
A Star Alliance Escort Ship was sliced directly in half, and at the very instant when the ship's body separated, it exploded.
Surrounded by ice-blue radiance, the Divine Mech now wielded not a shield but a long sword—a true Ship-Slicing Saber.
The shield, after all, represented the Shield Knights, and the beliefs Xu Lanzhou had been instilled with since childhood—endless loyalty to the Iridium Star United Empire and the Chancellor, as well as symbolizing the chivalric values of kindness and courage.
And none of these things were Xu Shisan.
She, Xu Shisan, fought to live out her true self, to seize control of her own fate. She had no loyalties, only companions; her sword, no longer a shield, still swung to protect.
Xu Shisan's eyes shone with an intense light, unaware that she had already ignited her Star Energy, becoming one with the Divine Mech.
She lunged forward with Instant Flash and the Ship-Slicing Saber descended again, targeting another Star Alliance cruiser engaged in planetary bombardment.
This strike was unmatched in its might. However, a cruiser's skin was much thicker than that of an escort ship. Although the strike forced the cruiser away and even caused internal failures, it did not succeed in severing the ship in two.
Nonetheless, the Divine Mech was terrifying—using a "small" mech to cleave or fling a warship was a fearsome power unseen even by the veteran warriors of the ninety-five legions.
Lai Zhicun's already small eyes narrowed slightly as he said, "General Xu, do not say that you were not warned."
"Let's see who is superior!" Xu Shisan roared, her mech like a dragon, executing another Instant Flash and sending another warship flying.
She intended to drive away all ships bombing the planets in this manner, but only she knew how much this kind of fighting drained her. She had ignited her Star Energy with the help of the Divine Mech and was now fighting purely on a surge of sharp spirit, even burning her own life force; she did not know how long she could last, but no matter what, she was fighting for herself.
Xu Lanzhou fought for the Chancellor, the Empire, and for truth, justice, mercy, and courage.
But Xu Shisan fought only for herself and her companions.
She was intensely exhilarated, as if it was only in this moment that she truly left behind the other nineteen personalities of Xu Lanzhou, without any intrusive noises disturbing her; she lived as herself, unburdened by anything.
This sensation was intoxicating.
Even if this battle were to end her life and shatter her soul, she had lived by her own name, and that was enough to satisfy her.
Above the tumultuous earth, Han Jiaxue, still in that refined attire, watched the sky stained with streaming fire, and looked at the female general fighting to the death in space, her gaze blurred, her lips parting slightly to sigh deeply, "Foolish girl..."
"Perhaps, you are the real Xu Lanzhou. Xu Lanzhou, daughter of the Knight Family, burdened with too many expectations not meant for her, forced to live as others hoped she would, thus becoming the Xu Lanzhou others saw—a knight, the thirteenth. But you, you are the true Xu Lanzhou, Thirteen."