Goodbye Earth

The next day.

Operation Morning Star.

Across the globe, humanity launched its final battle against the Extinction Species—simultaneously and without retreat.

“Tian Shu, how are you holding up?” a voice came through the comms inside the mech.

“I’m fine……”

At this moment, Bai Ci was en route to the Pacific skies, heading toward the Seventh Nest of the Extinction Species—codenamed Uranos, floating high above the clouds.

“Stay sharp, General!”

!!!

Stay sharp! Today’s your birthday, after all…

For a brief second, Bai Ci faltered. Even after so many years, hearing words like that still triggered a phantom image of that day.

“Sorry,” Bai Ci murmured softly.

Since they were still far from the target zone, there was time to check on his squad’s mental state.

And this step was crucial. In combat against the Extinction Species, poor psychological readiness increased fatality rates by fifty percent—or more.

“Didn’t get enough rest, General?”

“That’s unusual for you. Our very own Wu Sheng of Huaxia?”

“Hmm… isn’t that what your country calls warriors with unmatched strength?”

“I think I remember someone like that in history… Guan Yu, right?”

A female pilot of Nihon descent chimed in over the internal squad channel.

“You know quite a bit,” Bai Ci replied with a bitter smile.

He knew she was trying to lighten the suffocating atmosphere of impending death.

“Well, I’ve been reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms in my spare time lately!”

“Oh? Which chapter are you on?” another pilot, Huaxia-born, asked curiously.

“Hmm… what was it called again? I haven’t finished it yet… something about ‘retreating from Mai Cheng’…”

Retreating from Mai Cheng, huh… Maybe I should stop being the “Warrior Saint” then.

“Anyway, I’ll definitely finish that chapter when I get back!”

Even through the cold armor of their mechs, her enthusiasm was palpable.

Every soldier here had survived countless battles to become elite among elites—worthy of participating in Morning Star.

But this wasn’t defense. This was offense.

Defensive operations meant protecting bases or strongholds. But offense meant charging straight into the heart of an Extinction Species nest.

It was suicide. And yet, it was happening simultaneously across the planet.

Hands trembling uncontrollably. Sweat soaking through combat suits, dampening cockpits.

Only now did Bai Ci truly understand what this meant.

To go this far… for such a ridiculous dream?

If the doctor’s hypothesis fails… humanity will have no choice but to abandon Earth.

Not long after, as they neared the target zone, the sky around them turned into thick, viscous black liquid.

“All assault units,”

“enter Level One combat alert.”

“Understood!”

As commander of the vanguard assault team, Bai Ci fully grasped the weight of their mission: carve a path through tens of thousands of Extinction Species, creating a corridor wide enough to deploy the T-element energy bomb.

They had to penetrate deep into the nest and hold the line—ensuring no living Extinction Species could intercept the falling payload.

“Right wing squad, form formation.”

“Left wing squad, form formation.”

“Assault team, prepare for engagement!”

Is the final battle here?

Bai Ci clenched his teeth.

Despite having fought countless times before, seeing his comrades—unaware of the truth—fighting beside him stirred something indescribable in his chest.

If they knew their lives were being gambled on a madman’s dream… wouldn’t they feel cheated?

Yet still, he would not waver.

Bai Ci had long since stopped doubting.

No matter what, he would complete this miracle.

He glanced at the plush ball in his hand—the one he’d lost and now regained.

For her.

****

Morning, two hours after the operation began.

The battlefield was a slaughterhouse.

Bai Ci’s vanguard unit had been reduced from over forty pilots to just seventeen. Now, they stood atop the landing platform of the aerial nest.

“Unit 3, watch your six!”

Bai Ci activated his mech’s energy field. Blue light surged through his mechanical arm, coalescing into a searing beam that tore through space itself—a single, precise shot.

It struck directly behind Unit 3, obliterating a swarm of winged Extinction Species mid-lunge. Body fragments scattered across the sky like macabre confetti.

Ugh…

By now, even Bai Ci was nearing his limit. Only sheer willpower kept him moving.

Another wave repelled…

Inside the command center, the doctor stared at a wall of flickering screens.

Around him, chaotic electronic noise screamed at volumes that would drive most men insane—but his heart remained as still as a calm lake.

“Patch me into General Bai Ci’s cockpit feed—Uranos frontlines,” the doctor ordered an operator.

On the battlefield, amidst the carnage of countless Extinction Species limbs and bodies, a private transmission finally reached Bai Ci’s cockpit.

“Well done, General.

Now, issue the order: all surviving personnel except yourself are to disengage immediately. Descend below one thousand meters and exit the target zone within three minutes.

In four minutes and twelve seconds… the door to the other world will open.”

After issuing the command, the doctor turned to the tall man beside him.

“Commander, Tian Shu has reached proximity to the ‘door,’ with no interference from the Extinction Species. Initiate final sequence.”

The Commander nodded.

At his signal, across every last surviving sanctuary on Earth, beams of apocalyptic light ignited in unison.

Their targets: every known Extinction Species nest across the globe.

“Go ahead… taste this,” the Commander whispered.

Most pilots had already retreated before weapon deployment. Their role had been clear: clear the path.

Those with remaining duties had long accepted their fates. For them, this day had been overdue.

****

Meanwhile, after issuing the retreat order and watching his comrades slowly pull back behind him, Bai Ci finally allowed himself a breath of relief.

Persuading those stubborn soldiers to leave him behind had taken everything—arguments, pleas, and finally, the absolute authority of a commanding officer’s order.

There was still about a minute and a half left until the doctor’s deadline…

When the door opens… what will happen to me?

Bai Ci realized, at this final moment, he had long abandoned thoughts of humanity’s fate, Earth’s future…

All that remained in his mind was his life.

I should’ve written a will…

No, even if I did, who would read it?

I should’ve slept properly last night…

Or eaten my favorite KFC one last time before launching…

Faces flashed through his mind—finally settling on hers.

Yue Ling……

……

Ten seconds until the energy wave reaches target.

9 seconds…

……

3 seconds…

Inside the command center, the doctor stared fixedly at the screen. Even he, usually so composed, had hands slick with sweat.

1 second…

As the final T-element weapons descended upon every Extinction Species nest across the world,

the annihilating force converged at a single frequency.

Reality fractured.

Time froze.

“Xiao Ci…..”

!!!!!!

What was that?

I heard it—I heard her voice.

There’s no mistake—

And in the next instant, a twisting, indescribable frequency enveloped him completely…

In just one second, the Extinction Species across the globe vanished without a trace.

Only a scarred, shattered Earth remained—proof they had ever existed.

This power…

Yes. It’s the door……

……..

Did it… succeed?

“Link me to Tian Shu…” the doctor whispered, voice trembling.

.Beep… beep… beep…

No signal.

Tian Shu had gone dark.

It worked…

“Then… safe travels on your journey to another world, General Bai Ci.”