Major General Alpha (17): “I’m really looking forward to seeing the eldest prince’s social death!”

The audience was speechless at Gu Juntian’s reaction.

“I’m going crazy— even the Zerg Queen has appeared, and you still have the mood to flirt with Zhou Qinghao?”

“When I watch trashy romance dramas, the thing I hate most is when, in a life-or-death crisis, the leads still only focus on love. Why aren’t you two running?!”

“Run, now!”

“Gu Juntian, stop messing around!”

…

The Human Empire had, through high-tech means, managed to capture photographs of the Star Zerg Queen and knew what she looked like.

There had even been military forces who had encountered her before.
In that army were S-level powerhouses, yet in the end, not a single person survived— all of them became food for the Queen.

To the people of the Human Empire, the Star Zerg Queen was the most terrifying existence.

No one ever imagined they would be face-to-face with her during a livestream.

Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao’s strength had already been proven in previous battles— the two of them were likely the strongest people in the Human Empire at present.

But they were still young, only in their thirties, and S-level Alphas usually reached their peak after the age of fifty.

If they could survive, they would only grow stronger, and might one day lead the army to drive away the Zerg.

But now, facing five advanced Zerg plus the Zerg Queen without any additional help, they were likely to die young.

Were the two super-S-level powerhouses of the Human Empire about to fall?

In the First Legion, more and more people were gathering around Marshal Lei.

Everyone was anxious.

“If they die on that barren planet, it will be a loss for all humankind!”

“Could this be a trap set by the Second Prince in collusion with the Zerg Queen?”

“Damn that Second Prince!”

“The First Prince was too reckless— why didn’t he bring more help?”

…

At this moment in the Human Empire, many companies had stopped work, schools had suspended classes— everyone was watching the livestream.

The war between the Human Empire and the Zerg had dragged on for a very long time. Over the years, countless soldiers had died on the battlefield, and many civilians had also been killed by the Zerg.

Zhou Qinghao’s parents were among those who perished in their jaws.

His family had once lived on a resource planet. His father, a C-level Alpha, operated mining machinery there, while his mother, a Beta woman, cared for the home.

Life had been happy— until one day, a swarm of Zerg bypassed the military defenses and landed on the planet.

Humans and ore alike became food for the Zerg.

Only the children were saved, protected to the death by the stationed troops and people like Zhou Qinghao’s father who had some fighting ability, until reinforcements arrived.

Zhou Qinghao hated the Zerg, as did the rest of the Human Empire.

In much of the Empire’s literature and film, the Zerg Queen was the ultimate villain.

Now, she had appeared for real— and Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao might not be able to kill her like the invincible 3S powerhouses in the stories.

“Although this might not be the right time to say this, in this life-or-death moment, Zhou Qinghao told Gu Juntian to run, but Gu Juntian refuses… they must be in love.”

“I always thought AA romances were disgusting, but if it’s them, it’s actually kind of nice.”

“Please, Heaven, let them live!”

…

On the barren planet, Zhou Qinghao glared angrily at Gu Juntian. “Gu Juntian, are you crazy?!”

He was almost panicking. At a time like this, why wouldn’t Gu Juntian run?!

This was the Zerg Queen! He didn’t want Gu Juntian to die.

Despite his anger, Zhou Qinghao didn’t forget what Gu Juntian had said— he released his pheromones.

Gu Juntian also stopped hiding his own.

At the same time, he pulled the five incoming S-level powerhouses into his comms channel.

“You handle those five advanced Zerg. Zhou Qinghao and I will deal with the Queen,” Gu Juntian said, his expression turning serious. “We can win!”

Then he looked at Zhou Qinghao. “Qinghao, let’s go!”

Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao charged toward the Zerg Queen, while the five S-level powerhouses attacked the five advanced Zerg.

When they saw the Queen, fear stirred in their hearts.

They didn’t really believe they could win this time.

But they were soldiers— they could not back down.

Already suited in mechs and ready for battle, they leapt down from the ships that had been hiding in stealth and joined the fight.

Viewers across the star network became excited at the sight. “There really are reinforcements!”

“Gu Juntian wasn’t lying when he said help was coming!”

“I recognize that mech— that’s General Hals’s!”

“Gu Juntian, you’re the strongest 3S powerhouse— you have to win!”

…

At the same time, the First Legion issued an announcement explaining the situation.

It turned out that half a month ago, the First Prince had contacted Marshal Lei, saying someone told him there were advanced Zerg on a certain barren planet. Then he secretly reached out to some S-level powerhouses, intending to hunt the Zerg.

Since Marshal Lei didn’t know the full details, when the public asked about Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao’s whereabouts earlier, he couldn’t give an answer.

“I knew it— there’s no way he’s working with the Zerg!”

“If he were colluding with them, he would never have informed Marshal Lei in advance.”

“Now Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao don’t have to worry about those advanced Zerg attacking— can they beat the Queen?”

“The Queen is extremely powerful. Even if they’re super-S-level, it won’t be easy.”

…

On the barren planet, Zhou Qinghao was also wondering if they could kill the Queen.

Then Gu Juntian spoke. “Qinghao, let’s kill her together.”

Without another word, he rushed toward her.

Before coming here, Gu Juntian had made thorough preparations and several plans, estimating the number of Zerg that might appear.

High level Zerg were relatively few— many were busy with their hordes of mid- and low-tier Zerg, consuming resources on other planets.

From the information he had obtained from Marshal Lei, he guessed there would be at most six high level Zerg.

But it wasn’t certain that only high level Zerg would appear.

He had considered the possibility that the Zerg Queen might come.

That was why he brought along five S-level powerhouses, and told them to bring their elite subordinates.

If the Queen appeared, those S-level warriors and their teams could hold back the high level Zerg, while he and Zhou Qinghao focused solely on her.

“You have numbers, but killing me won’t be so easy,” the Zerg Queen spoke again.

At the same time, she launched a mental attack on Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao.

They countered with their own mental power— and discovered that their mental forces intertwined and fused together.

In this way, their combined power surpassed the Queen’s.

As long as they coordinated perfectly, they could influence her movements, just as they had done when fighting advanced Zerg before.

S-level powerhouses could kill high level Zerg largely thanks to their mental abilities— and now they had the strength to affect even the Queen.

However, the Queen’s advantage wasn’t only her mental force, but also her body.

No one knew how many years she had lived— her combat skill was formidable.

Victory would not come easily.

Her mental attack was so strong that even the five S-level warriors fighting the advanced Zerg were affected.

But when Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao unleashed their own mental force, those five suddenly felt the pressure lift.

The change filled them with fighting spirit.

Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao were stronger than they had imagined.

Maybe, just maybe, they could actually kill the Queen.

If they did… they would make history today.

Just the thought of it was thrilling.

On the barren planet, the battle between the human elites and the Zerg had already begun.

Across the Human Empire’s many planets, no one knew how many people were watching the livestream.

Most of them were silently praying, hoping Gu Juntian and his companions would win.

As for a few others… the Second Prince was on the verge of losing his mind!

Not long ago, he had been happily waiting to see Gu Juntian’s downfall, but now, he was the one who was finished!

If Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao were killed by the Zerg Queen, even if there was no concrete evidence of his collusion with the Zerg, people would still see him as a traitor to humanity because of Gu Juntian’s earlier words.

If instead Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao weren’t killed, and they managed to kill the Zerg Queen, Gu Juntian would become the center of attention while he would be left with nothing!

“Damn it! Didn’t you say Gu Juntian didn’t know anything?”

“This is what you call ‘he doesn’t love Zhou Qinghao and is only using him’?”

“His strength is this great and you had no idea? Why am I even paying you?”

…

The Second Prince raged at his subordinates.

They answered meekly but had no way to help.

Just then, the Second Prince’s communicator rang—an unknown number was calling.

“The Third Legion is planning to arrest you. If you want to live, run now.”

Upon hearing this, the Second Prince didn’t say another word and immediately boarded his private spaceship to flee from the Third Legion.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of his father and himself, the Third Legion had long been on his side, and even the Second Legion had been friendly toward him.

He had already built up enough power to contend with Gu Juntian.

But now, everything was ruined.

No matter what, the Second and Third Legions would never support someone who had colluded with the Zerg!

They had their personal motives, but they also had a bottom line.

Not long after the Second Prince fled, members of the Third Legion arrived.

Finding him gone, they were furious.

But his private spaceship, if nothing else, was top-tier in speed— they couldn’t catch up.

They could only leave in frustration.

As they departed, they asked their comrades over the military’s internal channel: “How’s the battle going?”

Naturally, the battle they referred to was the fight between Gu Juntian, Zhou Qinghao, and the Zerg Queen.

“That Zerg Queen is infuriating! Every time she gets hit, she retreats underground, and she even uses her own eggs as bombs. Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao can’t deal with her for now, but she’s clearly scared— she’s started sending out the call to summon more Zerg!”

“But it’s useless! After Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao’s situation blew up online, countless people rushed toward the barren planet. Those people can block the incoming Zerg.”

“The Zerg Queen is cunning and far stronger than advanced Zerg, but Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao are too strong, and their coordination is flawless!”

…

The battle between Gu Juntian, Zhou Qinghao, and the Zerg Queen indeed continued.

When the Zerg Queen once again retreated underground, Gu Juntian said, “I’ll go down and take a look.”

“I’m coming too,” Zhou Qinghao replied.

“You…” Gu Juntian didn’t want him to go down.

Zhou Qinghao caught on to his thoughts. “Didn’t you say you’d stick to me for life? And now you want to shake me off?”

“…Alright, we’ll go together.” Gu Juntian smiled.

The underground was the Zerg Queen’s domain— entering would certainly be dangerous, but there they might find a chance to kill her.

Gu Juntian’s prediction was correct— the underground was indeed dangerous.

But down there, they killed the Zerg Queen.

She kept laying eggs, and the part of her tail used for egg-laying was her weakness.

Gu Juntian used the emergency potential-stimulating drug Marshal Lei had given him and self-destructed his mech, finally killing the Zerg Queen underground.

Of course, he himself was beaten half to death, and if Zhou Qinghao hadn’t grabbed him and pulled him into a tunnel, he would have been buried alive by the collapsing rock and magma from the Queen’s death throes.

A human’s body was far weaker than a Zerg’s— in such a situation, he would have died for sure.

But he wasn’t afraid at all.

He knew Zhou Qinghao would save him.

So when Zhou Qinghao carried him back to the surface and injected him with a healing agent, he smiled, lips trembling, and said, “Qinghao, I feel awful. I’ll only get better if you kiss me.”

He said this while still coughing up blood.

Zhou Qinghao wasn’t sure what he was feeling at that moment.

Nothing else mattered— all he saw was Gu Juntian.

He grabbed him and kissed him hard.

In the earlier battle, Zhou Qinghao had also been injured.

In the cockpit of his mech was his own blood, and Gu Juntian’s blood.

In that cramped, bloodstained space, they embraced and kissed.

Gu Juntian was already too weak to move, while Zhou Qinghao kissed fiercely, as if to devour him.

Then Gu Juntian reached out and placed his hand on Zhou Qinghao’s chest.

Zhou Qinghao thought he was pushing him away, but quickly realized he wasn’t.

Gu Juntian gave his chest a squeeze. Once. Twice.

Zhou Qinghao fell silent. The livestream viewers also fell silent.

The signal beacon the Second Prince had planted on the barren planet was excellent, so the audience had been watching the entire battle— and now they were still watching.

The fight hadn’t been much to look at, but this… this was worth watching.

Two battle-damaged beauties, kissing!

It’s just… the Crown Prince was too much of a clown and far too shameless— in a moment like this, he still thought about groping!

Who even does that?

Your Highness, what exactly is going on in your head?!

Zhou Qinghao stayed silent.

They had been together for years, and Gu Juntian had never shown any interest before. Why now, all of a sudden?

Was this really the Crown Prince?

Whatever the case, he was sure— this was the man he loved.

“Qing… Qinghao, wipe my blood and fix my clothes,” Gu Juntian said with difficulty.

He was still someone who cared about appearances.

In front of Zhou Qinghao, he could be disheveled, but in front of others, he had to maintain his image.

The battle on the surface had already ended.

The five helpers Gu Juntian had brought were experienced, and they had other allies as well.

By now, the five advanced Zerg were all dead, though the fighters had sustained some injuries. They surrounded Zhou Qinghao.

After finishing off the high level Zerg, they had planned to assist Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao, but before they could move, they discovered the Zerg Queen was already dead.

Seeing only Zhou Qinghao’s mech emerge, they were worried. “Where’s the Crown Prince?”

“Lieutenant general Zhou, are you alright?”

“Lieutenant general Zhou?”

…

They asked several times before Zhou Qinghao answered, “We’re both fine. Let’s head to the ship.”

Gu Juntian’s condition wasn’t good— he needed to get into a medical pod immediately.

“Yes, to the ship!” everyone agreed.

Zhou Qinghao boarded first, and before the others arrived, he carried the badly injured Gu Juntian out of the mech.

The moment his feet touched the deck, Gu Juntian stood on his own and drank another bottle of healing agent.

By then, the others had boarded.

Looking utterly composed, Gu Juntian smiled at them. “Everyone, the Zerg Queen is dead. We are the heroes of all humankind! Now, let’s take a break and get something to eat. I’m going to shower and change… we’ll meet again in two hours.”

Then he turned to Zhou Qinghao. “Qinghao, let’s go.”

Zhou Qinghao came to his side, and the two left together.

Once they reached the Crown Prince’s quarters on the ship, Gu Juntian immediately said, “I can’t… Qinghao, get me into the medical pod now!”

Shower? Change clothes? Forget it— all he wanted now was to lie down in the medical pod!

If he could rest for two hours, he might recover somewhat.

Zhou Qinghao carried him into the medical pod. Once inside, Gu Juntian struggled to open his mouth and told the pod’s AI, “Wake me in an hour and a half.”

Then he closed his eyes and passed out.

Viewers suddenly realized something. “The Crown Prince… seems to really care about his image?”

“He was injured so badly, yet still acted completely fine in front of others.”

“If he knew all his earlier actions had been broadcast live, I wonder how he’d react…”

“Why are you all focusing on that? The main point is— the Zerg Queen is dead!”

…

Yes— the Zerg Queen was dead.

This was a historic event that changed humanity’s fate.

When they saw her die, everyone cried.

In fact, they were still crying.

But amid their tears, they stared at the livestream and cheerfully discussed Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao.

“I can’t wait to see the Crown Prince’s reaction when he realizes this went public!”

“This livestream must’ve been saved, right? It’ll definitely make it into history textbooks. That way, not only will the whole world see the Crown Prince’s heroic figure, but so will future generations.”

“This is real footage of a 3S powerhouse killing the Zerg Queen— I won’t just watch it once. I’ll rewatch it over and over.”

“Enough about that… did you notice that when the Crown Prince isn’t talking, he’s ridiculously handsome?”

“The Crown Prince is the most handsome! Even when he’s being an idiot, he’s still number one in the world!”

“Stop just drooling over him— didn’t a lot of you curse him before? Shouldn’t you go delete that black history of yours?”

“I’m deleting mine right now!”

“Me too!”

…