Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Seek Our Help!
Ke Yi’s voice didn’t conceal a thing.
Everyone around heard it.
But it didn’t cause much commotion, even though many showed evident sadness and despair, in the end, they straightened their spines under the watchful eyes of those around them.
As if showing fear or despair at this moment were tantamount to profound shame.
However, Shen Qian’s gaze became even sharper.
“Then let me ask in another way,” he still stared intently at Ke Yi, “Have you already given up on victory?”
“…” Ke Yi seemed to be stunned by the question, to the point of momentarily freezing.
Given up on victory?
He had made the situation abundantly clear, the enemy’s strength and numbers far surpassed their expectations, and even if they were three times stronger, they would have a hard time resisting.
There was simply no hope.
So much so, that this question from the envoy in front of him left him unsure of how to respond.
Admit to giving up?
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That would seem weak.
But to claim they hadn’t given up?
No, in reality, they had given up.
Ke Yi fell into silence at this moment, but Shen Qian did not.
“I don’t know what your civilization’s attitude towards trials is,” Shen Qian said forcefully, “But for us, no matter the situation, no matter the despair, we would never give up the struggle, we would seize every chance we could find!”
Ke Yi looked at Shen Qian in front of him, his lips slightly moving, seemingly a bit moved.
But it was only for a moment, soon dissipating, he slowly said, “If there still were a chance, we would naturally not give up, but now, I see no chances left.”
Yes, his words were also a response to Shen Qian’s previous question.
In the presence of all the soldiers, all his subordinates, and all his citizens, he admitted his own surrender.
For the greatest leader, this action, within human civilization, was a grave sin that could shake the morale of the troops!
“No chances? It’s just that you are unwilling to look for them,” Shen Qian inhaled slowly, his gaze sweeping over everyone, “In our view, you still have at least one opportunity!”
“That’s impossible!”
Ke Yi frowned slightly and spoke out:
“Envoys, you may not understand the actual situation, we’ve discovered over a million undead, the weakest among them being above Level 5! The number of Undead Mages at Level 11 and above won’t be less than a thousand! And they have already gathered together, an Undead Army of this scale could instantly overwhelm our defenses and turn this city, with its population in the ten millions, into a land of death.”
He paused here, even emphasizing a bit more firmly, “Hope with no meaning makes people weaker, and a struggle with no point only leads to pain.”
Behind those words, there was a hint of discontent.
He wanted his troops, his citizens, to meet their end with dignity, not to end everything with a weak display.
Shen Qian went silent for a moment.
Then he looked deeply at Ke Yi in front of him and spoke very clearly, “It seems that there are certain differences between our cultures and concepts, but that’s alright, we won’t evacuate. Instead, we’ll stay and show you where the opportunity lies.”
Ke Yi was stunned again.
He almost thought he had heard wrong.
Stay?
If they fled now on that spaceship, even though it would still be dangerous, with their full effort to escort, there would still be a chance to survive.
But to stay would lead only to one outcome—death!
“Envoys…” Ke Yi seemed to want to say something else.
But Shen Qian interrupted him directly, saying quickly:
“Please take us to the battlefield, Lord Ke Yi. I will leave audio, visual, and written records, and I will transmit them back to our civilization simultaneously to prove that this is our own choice. I believe this is also what you need.”
Interrupting others was just as impolite in Sky Spirit Civilization.
But at this moment, Ke Yi was unable to express any dissatisfaction.
Because the envoy was right, if he left proof confirming that they chose to stay of their own accord, it would undoubtedly lessen human civilization’s anger—this was already the best possible outcome in the current dire circumstances.
“Envoys, are you sure you wish to do this?” Ke Yi turned to look at the others.
Everyone made the same gesture, affirming Shen Qian’s words with their actions.
“I admire your courage and thank you for your willingness to face the end with us,” Ke Yi no longer tried to persuade, saying so, and then led the envoys towards the battlefield.
In that instant, he really entertained a faint and impractical thought, wondering if there really might be an unseen opportunity yet to be found.
But he quickly dismissed the idea, feeling even ashamed of the weakness in his heart.
Reality was rigorous; things that were not meant to happen would not happen—miracles were but the delusions of the weak.
At that moment, an unprecedented Undead Army was about to arrive, with no hope of reinforcements from other cities, and even if Sky Vault City, despite exerting its utmost effort, was to hurry, it simply would not make it in time.
As for the Envoy?
Perhaps they did indeed have some trump cards, but with only a dozen or so people, he couldn’t imagine what kind of weapons or power could enable a dozen people to oppose an Undead Army of a million.
Silence enveloped the journey, with Ke Yi seemingly worried that speaking too much would weaken his resolve, uttering not a word, nor did anyone else; even when they reached the frontline defenses, a terrifying quiet reigned, all warriors standing in their appointed places as if already aware of their fate, silently preparing for their final battle.
And in front of them.
Lay a vast expanse of white fog!
In the gloomy and chilly environment of the Undead World, the spreading fog carried an awe-inspiring presence, with countless Undead writhing and howling within, each emitting a powerful aura, some obviously stronger than others!
All together, they resembled a colossal wave capable of annihilating everything, one that would engulf and destroy them with unstoppable force!
Even Yang Jun and the others had never seen an Undead Army of this scale!
The largest Undead Army they had encountered before might have matched in number, but in terms of quality, it was far inferior!
This power was insurmountable, even if they had reached the Fifteenth Level; they simply could not hold out for long.
Sooner or later, they would run out of strength and be relentlessly killed!
Ke Yi, observing the subtle changes in the envoys’ expressions, also felt a silent resignation.
He had already guessed it.
The envoys probably underestimated the Undead; perhaps the number of beings in their own civilization wasn’t that large, which was why there weren’t many Undead, and thus they could suppress them.
But here, against this kind of Undead Army, human power was no match.
Ke Yi said no more; whatever he might say now, it was already too late.
He stepped forward, raising his Magic Wand high in the face of the ever-growing, number-swelling Undead Army converging before him.
“My comrades!” his voice traveled far in the dim world of the Undead, “Today, we march together to our end, but never forget—we are the Sky Spirit People, the darlings of this world! So do not be afraid, do not despair; the only thing Civilization Trial can take away is our lives! For the Sky Spirit People! Hold your heads high until the very last moment!”
“For the Sky Spirit People!”
Countless warriors also raised their Magic Wands high, their voices filled with unwavering determination.
It seemed that the presence of the distant envoys inspired each one of them to stand tall and proud, facing straight ahead to the forefront!
The sounds that roared in also agitated the Undead Army before them.
They seemed unwilling to wait any longer, like a colossal wave that had risen, they charged forward with a terrifying momentum towards the frontlines.
As far as the eye could see, Undead were everywhere—above and below, filling the whole world!
In that moment, some Sky Spirit People could not help but reveal their despair, but under the stern gaze of their superiors, they once again stood tall and proud.
Countless Magic Wands, countless weapons were already filled with the glow of Magic Power.
This was their last magic, unleashing all their power without reservation!
“My fellow envoys,” Ke Yi said at this juncture, feeling he should say something, turning to look at the people in the envoy party, “The Sky Spirit People are not a weak species; death does not frighten us. However, not being able to showcase the strength and prosperity of the Sky Spirit People to our guests from afar is my only regret. But still, I hope today’s misfortune does not affect the friendly relations between our two civilizations.”
At this point, these words would no longer reach anyone alive to know them, thus it was truly what Ke Yi felt in his heart.
But in that moment, Shen Qian unexpectedly stepped forward.
He said solemnly, “Lord Ke Yi, I respect the culture of your civilization, but for us, no matter the time or place, no matter what we are facing, hope is always there, and the same applies to this moment!”
Ke Yi was stunned again.
This time not concealing his expression, he looked incredulously at Shen Qian and all the envoys before him.
Only at this moment did he notice the utterly calm countenance of the envoys.
It was a calm entirely different from theirs!
It wasn’t acceptance of death, but rather a confidence in victory, a confidence against all that lay before them!
This made him realize that the words just spoken by the other were deeply sincere!
But why?
Why did they still believe hope existed, even at this moment, after having witnessed the terrifying Undead?
Ke Yi’s heart began to race; though his reason and pride both told him it was impossible, in that moment, a surge of uncontrollable emotion welled up within him.
“So,” Shen Qian held out his hand, “if you have not abandoned the possibility of victory, if you have not become too weak to grasp the opportunity before you, then call to us for help. In the name of the Sky Spirit People, send a request for aid to us, the Human Civilization!”