Other h.o.m.o Evolutis mulled about in silence, austerity and severity following them like a cloud. Some opted for a cigarette break, while others closed their eyes in meditation. Few stood staring at the Hope’s walls as if in a trance. They despaired after the upcoming battle, but they knew they couldn’t surrender. If they weren’t doing it for themselves, they at least had to do it for their families who depended on the Hope to survive.

Yao Yuan got from the patrols Bo Li’s location. He took the electromobile to meet her at the lab. When he arrived, Bo Li was in the middle of a huddled discussion with a group of people. She swore a professional pants suit and black stilettos. She was fully focused in her work, and there was a fiery glint in her eyes.

"Bo Li!"

Bo Li heard the voice that she had been dreaming about call her name. She turned to see a haggard Yao Yuan walking towards her. She felt heat coming up to her face, and for some reason she felt the need to run. She steeled herself and asked as cavalierly as she could, "Yes, why are you here?"

"…Bo Li, my jet has been seriously damaged. I doubt it can be fixed in a short amount of time. I could take some of the other jets, but they can’t catch up to my speed. I need the best, could you give me your original prototype?" Yao Yuan got straight to the point while staring at Bo Li in her eyes.

Bo Li’s focus wavered, then she asked concernedly, "Your jet has been seriously damaged… Is the situation on the battlefield bad?"

"It’s definitely not ideal." Yao Yuan turned to his watch. "We have another 50 minutes until we launch the propeller, but there is still a giant monster army defending the nest. None of the reactors have been broken, and the enemy has nullified our ECS system. Since we can no longer win with surprise tactics, I need firepower, so give me that prototype!"

Bo Li looked at the man before her. He might be scarily solemn and foreboding at times, but he had a golden heart. Maybe her father was wrong about him…

"The prototype’s stationed at the hangar’s hidden room. You might not be aware of its existence, so I’ll bring you there." Bo Li nodded.

"I know where it is; I’ve seen you working on the prototype in there." The words stumbled out of Yao Yuan’s mouth. Only then did he realize that he sounded like a peeping tom.

Bo Li’s face flushed red and kept sending him patronizing gaze. Then the 2 of them walked to the hidden room. Yao Yuan trailed behind Bo Li and neither exchanged a word until they had almost reached their destination when both said in unison, "You…".

Bo Li fixed him a sideway stare and said, "You first then."

"Thank you," Yao Yuan said in a tender voice. "Is your face… still hurting? I’m really sorry for what I did."

"No, it’s fine. It has been fully healed." Bo Li shook her head. "How about the combat? Is everything going along just fine for you?"

"It’s okay…"

An awkwardness stretched until the hidden room opened, giving them the chance to change topic. Both jogged into the room until Bo Li stopped in front of a metallic wall. She pressed something on it and then the wall slowly moved to reveal a large s.p.a.ce with a bright red combat jet as its centerpiece!

"This is the prototype for all the other s.p.a.ce combat jets. There are an additional 2 accelerator fluxes and special circuits made using the plant’s alloys to increase maximum acceleration. This also affects the efficacy of the Gaussian cannons. They can now fire 1 shot every 2 seconds. Other modifications include a sh.e.l.l with greater tensile strength…" Bo Li launched into her explanation with pride in her eyes.

Yao Yuan too was overwhelmed by the majestic beauty of the combat jet. As Bo Li’s continued ramblings streamed into his ears, the weird sensation he previously felt resurged in his heart…

She reminded him so much of "her," pretty, brave, and kind. Bo Li didn’t have her cunning, but she had a desolateness that pulled out his protective nature…

"Did you make this specifically for me?" Yao Yuan couldn’t help but ask.

"Of course not…"

Bo Li was adamant in her refusal, but when she saw how awed Yao Yuan was by her handiwork, her heart softened and she admitted albeit circuitously that. "Its name is s.p.a.ce Combat Jet Prototype 003 NT Model. It’s specifically built for the Hope’s strongest h.o.m.o Evolutis. Shortened as NT 1, its maximum acceleration can reach up to 700 kilometers per second, 3 times the speed of normal combat jet. With 2 Gaussian Gatling guns and 1 mini Gaussian cannon, its firepower is also 3 times that of the normal jet."

Yao Yuan’s mouth curved into a smile. He tousled Bo Li’s hair lightly before parting to step closer to the combat jet. He climbed up the ladder to the pilot seat, and when he reached the final rung, he turned around and said, "Don’t worry, I promise you I’ll be back."

"…I’ll wait."

Several minutes later, Bo Li leaned against the Hope’s window and saw a red combat jet shoot out into s.p.a.ce and then blink out of her vision. She felt her heart wrench…

Yao Yuan, on the other hand, felt reenergized. The jet was as good as Bo Li said. It was fast, had more weapons, and was equipped with a small reactor to support a more powerful electromagnetic growth field. As aforementioned, every individual’s acclimation to the growth field was different. Yao Yuan, as the strongest h.o.m.o Evolutis, adapted to it best, allowing him a great increase in response speed.

"NT 1… 3 times the normal speed? Let’s try it out! Come, let us show this monster that not everything is its food!"

Yao Yuan couldn’t contain his giddiness. Like a flash of red lightning, he broke through the ozone layer and into s.p.a.ce.

"She has always been lousy at naming things. Should have just called it Red Lightning…"

NT 1 entered ECS state easily, and before long, it had reached the spot where the 2 forces were clas.h.i.+ng at full force. The mother nest had fully disengaged herself from Moon 2 and was moving with increasing speed toward the Hope’s planet. Around it, about 100 troopers were locked in deep combat with its defenders. The combat was so rabid that it was visible from a distance away.

Yao Yuan activated his multiple powers once more.

Sensing its pilot’s changes, Red Lightning increased in acceleration. 200 kilometers per second, 300 kilometers per second, 400 kilometers per second…

In a matter of seconds, Yao Yuan moved from the outer ring of the battle into the battle’s midst. Yao Yuan announced himself with a series of cannon fires. A wars.h.i.+p monster before him crumbled into pieces. Simultaneously, the Gaussian cannon sh.e.l.l blew up another wars.h.i.+p monster, shredding it completely. Following the Red Lightning was a sorry trail of alien guts and sinews.

"It’s the Captain! The Captain’s back!"

"He’s so fast, and what is that red combat jet?"

"Great, he took down another wars.h.i.+p!"

Everyone cheered, and the morale rose after Yao Yuan demolished another 10 wars.h.i.+ps. They moved to follow behind Yao Yuan, utilizing the break in the monster’s defense Red Lightning had torn.

However, Red Lightning was too fast. Even for Ebon, an experienced Perceptor, he couldn’t follow it.

Like an actual lightning bolt, Yao Yuan zapped through the battlefield before the monsters could form a proper defense line. Yao Yuan flew to above one of the 4 polymerized reactors. Underneath the disgusting layer of flesh, Yao Yuan could see the heat gathering within.

"Let’s light it up!"

A fully charged Gaussian cannon’s ammo hurtled towards its target in a straight line. When it pierced through the mother nest’s flesh, Yao Yuan’s Red Lightning was already miles away. Behind him, Yao Yuan felt an explosion radiating the heat and light of a small sun…

There were still 3 polymerized reactors to go!